Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa says state finances remain ample, with surplus funds driving growth.

Indonesia’s finance minister has dismissed viral claims that only Rp120 trillion remains in state coffers, stressing that the budget is solid and surplus balances are being used strategically to support economic activity.

Clarifying The Rp120 Trillion Figure
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa told reporters in Jakarta that fears over the State Budget are misplaced, explaining that the Rp120 trillion figure circulating online refers only to part of the government’s Saldo Anggaran Lebih parked at Bank Indonesia. He said total SAL stands at about Rp420 trillion, not Rp120 trillion, and repeated that “our money is still ample” and the APBN remains at a comfortable level.

Using SAL To Support Liquidity
Of the Rp420 trillion in SAL, around Rp300 trillion has been placed into the banking system to inject liquidity and accelerate economic activity through stronger credit intermediation. The government initially deployed Rp200 trillion and later added Rp100 trillion ahead of the Lebaran period to ensure banks could meet higher cash needs, while keeping the funds under state control.

Deposits On Call, Not Spent
Purbaya underlined that these placements are structured as deposits on call, meaning the government can withdraw them when needed and the money has not been exhausted. He framed the shift from holding SAL solely at Bank Indonesia to placing part of it in banks as a smart move that has underpinned growth in recent months by channeling idle balances into the real economy.

Revenue Growth And Controlled Deficit
From January to end March 2026, state revenue reached Rp574.9 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 10.5 percent driven mainly by overall tax receipts rising 20.7 percent. On the spending side, government expenditure grew 31.4 percent year-on-year, while the budget deficit remained contained at 0.93 percent of gross domestic product, signaling that higher outlays are still within prudent fiscal bounds.

APBN As Shock Absorber
The minister said these indicators show that the APBN remains solid and capable of acting as a shock absorber amid global geopolitical uncertainty and energy price volatility. By combining stronger revenues, controlled deficits and more active management of surplus balances, he argued that Indonesia can continue to cushion external shocks while pursuing its national growth targets.

The clarification over Rp120 trillion and the broader SAL position highlights how Indonesia is using its surplus funds to both stabilise banks and support growth without overstretching the budget. For Indonesians, this helps counter panic narratives and reinforces trust in fiscal management; for Singaporeans, it signals that a key regional partner is entering a turbulent global period with stronger buffers, steadier demand and more room to cooperate on trade and financial stability.

Sources: Batampos (2026) , CNN Indonesia (2026)

Keywords: Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, APBN Position, Saldo Anggaran Lebih, Bank Indonesia Deposits, Fiscal Deficit