Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa struck a measured tone during his first hearing with Finance Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR)on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, signaling a shift in his public communication style as he officially assumed his new role in President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet.

“This is my first visit here as Finance Minister,” Purbaya said at the start of the hearing on the ministry’s proposed 2026 budget at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

Previously serving as Chairman of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS), Purbaya acknowledged his reputation for being outspoken, jokingly referring to his prior communication style as “cowboy-like.”

“As LPS Chairman, people used to say I spoke like a cowboy. But now I can’t do that anymore. Today, I’m reading a speech prepared by my staff. No more freestyle talking,” he said, drawing laughter from the room.

He was accompanied by three Deputy Finance Ministers: Thomas Djiwandono, Suahasil Nazara, and Anggito Abimanyu.

Purbaya’s appearance came just two days after being sworn in by President Prabowo, replacing long-serving Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Welcoming the new minister, Commission XI member Harris Turino of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remarked on Purbaya’s rapid rise to public prominence.

“First of all, congratulations, Sir. Within just two days, you’ve become the most viral person in Indonesia,” Harris said, also prompting laughter in the room.

Despite the light-hearted tone, Harris raised serious concerns about Purbaya’s earlier remarks on targeting 6-7 percent economic growth, a figure significantly higher than the government’s current 2026 GDP projection of 5.4 percent.

“Mass layoffs are still happening. Unemployment and poverty may be declining, but people are still struggling with purchasing power. The 2.48 percent budget deficit must be tightly managed, and we’re facing high debt maturities this year along with persistent external pressures,” Harris said.

Nonetheless, he welcomed the minister’s ambition and expressed hope that Prabowo’s oft-cited 8 percent growth target could eventually be realized.

“We all want to reach that figure, but moving from 5.4 to 6 or 7 percent will require fundamental changes to our economic assumptions,” Harris said.