Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Muhammad Isnur, criticizes the new Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa's statement on "17+8 People's Demands." According to Isnur, the remark was indicative of public officials' ignorance of the hardships faced by the people.
"(He was) speaking carelessly and lacking knowledge of social movements, unaware of the principles of the republic and democracy," said Isnur via WhatsApp on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Purbaya seems to view the people's aspirations as a minor and insignificant voice, Isnur said, adding that the new minister was "out of touch" with the condition of the Indonesian people.
Purbaya was recently inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto as the Minister of Finance, replacing Sri Mulyani Indrawati, on Monday, September 8, 2025. When asked by reporters about the "17+8 People's Demands" movement, he admitted that he has not studied it.
Nevertheless, Purbaya believes that the demands may come from a small portion of the people.
"But basically, that's it. It's just the voice of a small portion of our people. Why? Perhaps some feel disturbed, and their lives are lacking," said Purbaya at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Monday.
The "17+8 People's Demands" movement consists of 17 short-term demands and 8 long-term demands. The short-term demands include requesting the government to ensure fair wages for all workers, prevent mass layoffs, and open dialogue to find solutions for minimum wage and outsourcing. The eight long-term demands include asking the government to review economic and labor sector policies. The 17+8 movement emerged amid the escalating mass demonstrations at the end of August 2025.
According to Purbaya, these demands will automatically disappear once he successfully drives 6 to 7 percent economic growth. Because, he said, people will be busy looking for jobs and enjoying good food rather than protesting out on the streets.
But he acknowledged that 8 percent economic growth may not be immediate.
YLBHI believes that controversial comments from Prabowo's cabinet members have occurred more than once. Isnur cited the statement made by Presidential Office Chief Hasan Nasbi, who once suggested "just cook it" when Tempo was terrorized with a pig's head.
Furthermore, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar made a statement that teachers should not seek money like merchants, a claim he later rectified and apologized for.
"It's like there's no quality selection or recruitment, including indicators of understanding democracy, the public, community participation, and how to communicate with the public," said Isnur.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2047383/ylbhi-slams-indonesias-new-finance-ministers-remark-on-178-demand