Purbaya ousted after clash with Prabowo's ex-army colleague, sources say
The episode is another example of Prabowo's personal style of governance, with the former special forces commander making decisions based on feedback more from his trusted inner circle and loyalists than professionals and experts, analysts say.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa was removed from office after a disagreement with a former special forces colleague of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, according to three government sources. The clash occurred over the reshuffling of hundreds of officials at the finance ministry, mainly in the tax and customs directorates.
Djaka Budhi Utama, the customs and excise chief, and Bimo Wijayanto, the head of the tax department, both opposed the job rotation as they had not agreed to it. Djaka, a former member of Prabowo's special forces team, reportedly enjoyed direct access to the president. Purbaya required approval from Prabowo's inner circle to secure meetings.
Analysts suggest that Prabowo's reliance on trusted allies, including former military figures in civilian positions, overrides professional decision-making in Indonesia's largest economy.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
