Herman, Jakarta – Vice-presidential candidate Mohammad Mahfud MD said that Indonesia's economic growth has never reached the 7 percent mark since the start of the reform era in 1998. Growth around this figure was only achieved during the 1989-1991 period in the New Order era.

"Historically, the only period when our economic growth surpassed 7 percent was from 1989 to 1991 during the New Order era. However, such progress has not been witnessed in the reform era," Mahfud said.

Mahfud made the point correctly.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the Indonesian economy suffered a contraction of -13.13 percent during the political turmoil of 1998 when long-serving President Soeharto resigned amid nationwide protests against his authoritarian rule.

The economy regained its pace slowly and would not reach growth of 5 percent until six years later.

The detailed figures are as follows: in 1999, the growth rate was 0.79 percent, in 2000 it reached 4.92 percent, in 2021 it was 3.64 percent, in 2022 it stood at 4.5 percent, in 2003 it reached 4.78 percent, in 2004 it was 5.03 percent, in 2005 it increased to 5.69 percent, in 2006 it maintained at 5.5 percent, in 2007 it surged to 6.35 percent, in 2008 it was at 6.01 percent, in 2009 it decreased to 4.63 percent, and in 2010 it rose again to 6.22 percent.

Furthermore, in 2011, the growth rate was 6.17 percent, in 2012 it was 6.03 percent, in 2013 it decreased to 5.56 percent, in 2014 it was 5.01 percent, in 2015 it slightly decreased to 4.88 percent, in 2016 it increased to 5.03 percent, in 2017 it spiked to 5.07 percent, in 2018 it decreased to 5.17 percent, in 2019 it was at 5.02 percent, in 2020 it experienced negative growth of minus 2.07 percent, in 2021 it rebounded to 3.69 percent, and in 2022 it settled at 5.3 percent.

Previously, in the New Order Era, Indonesia's economy grew by 7.46 percent in 1989, in 1990 by 7.24 percent, and in 1991, it approached 7 percent, precisely 6.95 percent. In 1995, Indonesia's economy also briefly touched 8.22 percent.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/vp-candidates-debate-when-did-the-last-time-indonesian-economy-grow-by-