Purbaya Seeks to Join Whoosh Debt Negotiation Team as Prabowo Asserts State Responsibility

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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has expressed his intention to join the team renegotiating the Rp 54 trillion debt of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, the operator of the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed train known as Whoosh.

“If I am invited, I’d like to join so I can understand firsthand how the discussions are conducted,” Purbaya said during a visit to Surabaya, as quoted on Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025.

President Prabowo Subianto earlier emphasized that the government would take full responsibility for resolving the project’s debt, including exploring the use of recovered corruption assets to finance repayments. “The concept is still being detailed. What we have now are only broad outlines,” Purbaya added.

Prabowo Reaffirms State Commitment

Prabowo reiterated his administration’s commitment to the project during the inauguration of the new Tanah Abang Station in Jakarta on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025. He assured the public that the debt issue posed no threat to the national budget.

“Don’t worry about Whoosh. I’ve studied the issue. There’s no problem. I’ll take full responsibility,” Prabowo said. “Technology and infrastructure are the responsibility of the state, and ultimately, of the President. So now, I’m responsible for Whoosh.”

He underscored that Whoosh should be viewed as a public service obligation (PSO) rather than a profit-driven venture. “In every country, public transport systems are subsidized because their social benefits outweigh financial costs. All our railways are already 60% subsidized. This is the state’s presence for its people,” Prabowo said.

Danantara’s Role in Debt Restructuring

Dony Oskaria, Chief Operating Officer of Badan Pengelola Investasi (BPI) Danantara, said the government and Danantara would jointly oversee the restructuring. “Danantara will handle operational matters, while the government will manage infrastructure-related issues,” Dony said at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta on Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025.

He added that Whoosh’s presence has significant economic impact, stimulating growth by providing fast and reliable public transport. “We’re responsible for ensuring Whoosh operates optimally and serves more passengers going forward,” Dony said.

Danantara Chief Executive Officer and Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani previously revealed that part of the financing restructuring would rely on PSO allocations in the state budget. “Moving forward, there will be a PSO portion covered by the government. Meanwhile, the rolling stock and operations will be managed jointly by state-owned or private entities,” Rosan said after meeting President Prabowo on Wednesday, Nov 6, 2025.

Debate Over Use of State Budget

However, the plan to involve the Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara (APBN), or state budget, has drawn mixed reactions.

The Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), through its Vice Chairman Djoko Setijowarno, argued that debt installments of Rp 2.2 trillion per year should not come from public funds. “Let Danantara handle it. Don’t use the state budget. Regions outside Java still need much more attention,” Djoko said.

He added that channeling APBN resources to Java-centric projects could deepen inequality. “Our minerals are extracted from Morowali to Halmahera, yet people there remain poor. That’s unjust,” he said.

Djoko pointed out that Danantara had sufficient fiscal capacity, citing its recent Rp 30 trillion allocation to finance Garuda Indonesia’s aircraft purchase from Boeing. “Rp 2.2 trillion is small compared to that,” he remarked.

AHY: State Will Be Present

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) confirmed that the government would be part of the solution, stating that “the state will be present.”

Speaking after a limited cabinet meeting with President Prabowo on Monday, Nov 3, 2025, AHY said the discussion involved key ministers and Danantara officials, including Rosan Roeslani, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandi, and senior Finance Ministry representatives.

“All parties agreed to share responsibility for restructuring the financial framework of the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail,” AHY said. He hinted that APBN funds could eventually be part of the arrangement, though details were still under discussion. “The government budget will certainly play a role, but specifics will be announced later,” he noted.

The Whoosh project has become a test case for how President Prabowo balances fiscal prudence with his populist commitment to national infrastructure sovereignty. His administration has framed the high-speed rail as a long-term public good that enhances mobility, reduces pollution, and represents Indonesia’s mastery of modern transport technology in partnership with China.