Shadow Cabinet Criticizes Government's 'Wasteful' Budget Use

A minister within Indonesia's shadow cabinet has sharply criticized the current administration's economic policies and budget management, labeling the spending of taxpayer money as "careless."

Bhima Yudhistira, who serves as the Finance and Budget Governance Minister in the shadow cabinet, pointed to populist programs like the "free nutritious meals" initiative and "red and white village cooperatives" as examples of initiatives lacking proper feasibility studies or pilot projects. He argued that these programs, funded by public taxes and national debt, are being implemented without adequate vetting.

Yudhistira urged the Finance Minister to rigorously assess the viability of all proposed government programs. He stressed that ministers should not act as mere "yes men" but should be prepared to freeze budget allocations for unfeasible projects. He also criticized the use of excess budget balances for state-owned banks, citing ongoing fiscal challenges.

Furthermore, Yudhistira contended that the economic policies under the current leadership tend to be "cannibalistic," substituting rather than supporting the people's economy. He cited the free meals program as potentially replacing school canteens and the village cooperatives as competing with local warungs and distributors of subsidized goods. He warned that this approach, driven by elite capture, risks shrinking the economic pie and contradicts Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution. Yudhistira also expressed concern over the lack of creativity in tax management, particularly the failure to pursue large taxpayers with progressive taxes, while small businesses and the middle class face increased burdens.