Many Governors Protest, Minister Purbaya: If You Want to Develop a Region, It Should Be Good From the First

FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA — A number of Governors who are members of the Association of Indonesian Provincial Governments (APPSI) have expressed their rejection of the central government’s plan to cut Transfers to Regions (TKD) in the 2026 APBN.

The wave of protests was conveyed directly when the governors visited the office of the Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Tuesday (7/10/2025), yesterday.

Based on the information gathered, the meeting lasted approximately one hour, starting at 10.00 WIB.

Reportedly, the regional heads who attended came from Jambi, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, Banten, Riau Islands, Central Java and Central Sulawesi.

Also present were North Maluku, West Sumatra, DI Yogyakarta, Papua Mountains, Bengkulu, Aceh, North Sumatra, Lampung, South Sulawesi and NTB.

After the meeting, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that there had been conveyance of aspirations from governors who objected to the funding cuts.

“Everyone is talking. Everyone is talking, they don’t want to be left behind. What do you want to ask? There are some who say this is disturbing regional stability and disturbing the Republic of Indonesia in all kinds of ways,” said Purbaya.

Purbaya said that such rejection was normal.

However, he emphasized that regions should have been able to manage their finances effectively long ago so as not to be completely dependent on central transfers.

“If they want to develop the area, it should have been good from the start, the budget should not be lost here and there,” he said.

However, Purbaya said that the government is still open to increasing the TKD budget in the middle of next year, as long as national economic conditions improve.