Clashing on All Fronts - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During the inaugural ride of Jakarta's Light Rail Transit (LRT) on the Kelapa Gading-Manggarai route on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung seized the opportunity to speak with President Prabowo Subianto. Inside the light-rail carriage, Pramono asked Prabowo to task the Danantara Investment Management Agency with helping develop Phase 1C of the Jakarta LRT, from Manggarai to Dukuh Atas. The answer was vague. "Jakarta is rich," Prabowo said with a chuckle.

Pramono got a clear answer only when Prabowo delivered a speech at Manggarai LRT Station. "I think Danantara is obliged to help. Because DKI (Jakarta) does not belong only to the people who live in DKI, but to the entire nation," Prabowo said.

Prabowo's speech addressed the question of whether the central government should help fund infrastructure projects in the regions. Pramono had sought Danantara's help after the Finance Ministry, under Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, held back the distribution of revenue-sharing funds (DBH). By mid-2026, the total amount of the DBH owed by the central government to regional governments had reached Rp70.2 trillion (around US$3.95 billion). The money is owed to 413 regions.

Purbaya claimed that the move was in line with the State Budget Law. But the regions bore the consequences as development projects stalled. As a result, regional heads such as Pramono Anung had to scramble for funding for infrastructure projects and public services.