371 Days of Controversy - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several business leaders attended the handover ceremony for the Finance Minister, from Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to Suahasil Nazara, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Among them were Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Chair of the Indonesian Employers Association National Leadership Board, and Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

The business leaders arrived as a dispute over stalled tax refunds by the Finance Ministry's Directorate-General of Taxes was still simmering. A tax refund is a claim by taxpayers, including businesses, for the return of excess tax payments. In recent months, many business owners had complained that refunds owed to them were late. As a result, their cash flow has been disrupted.

After congratulating Suahasil Nazara, the Deputy Finance Minister who had just been elevated to the top job, Shinta Kamdani delivered five messages from the business community. One concerned the stalled tax refunds. "Hopefully, the refunds can be settled soon," she said. According to Shinta, delays in disbursing refunds were putting a strain on companies because they needed the money to keep their businesses running.

Shinta said she had raised the issue with the Finance Ministry through various channels, including letters. "We've done everything," she said. Business leaders are now waiting for the resolution mechanism proposed by the government.