Jakarta. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Monday he would press ahead with tax and customs reforms despite allegations that he could be “set up” for pursuing policies that disrupt entrenched interests.

Speaking at the Finance Ministry in Jakarta, Purbaya dismissed suggestions that political or legal pressure would slow the government’s reform agenda, which aims to tighten oversight and clean up tax and customs administration.

“Let it be. We will continue with the reforms,” Purbaya said, responding to claims raised earlier in the day during testimony at the Jakarta Corruption Court.

His remarks come as he signals a sweeping reorganization of the tax authority, including a broad rotation of senior officials at the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT), aimed at restoring public trust and strengthening revenue collection amid mounting fiscal pressure. The moves follow a bribery case at the North Jakarta Tax Office that is currently under investigation by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The allegations were raised by former deputy manpower minister Immanuel Ebenezer, widely known as Noel, who told the court he had received what he described as “A1” information — a term often used to denote highly credible intelligence — that Purbaya could be targeted. Noel said the minister’s policies had disrupted what he called the “party” of corrupt actors.

“Anyone who disrupts the party of these bandits will be attacked,” Noel told reporters after the hearing.

Purbaya said he did not understand the basis of the claim and questioned how such a scenario could materialize if a public official maintained integrity. He stressed that refusing bribes and illicit payments was the strongest safeguard against political or legal vulnerability.

“I don’t take money. My salary here is sufficient,” he said. “As long as I don’t accept money, the risk is very small.”

According to Purbaya, officials become most exposed to pressure or manipulation once they accept bribes, which limits their ability to act decisively and leaves them open to blackmail or criminal reports.

“Once you take money, your position becomes extremely risky. You can’t dismiss people or move them because someone will report it and leak it,” he said.

While acknowledging that attempts at entrapment are theoretically possible — such as planting money or fabricating allegations — Purbaya said such efforts would still require a plausible factual basis to succeed.

He said he has no personal agenda beyond carrying out the mandate given by President Prabowo Subianto, including reforms that may unsettle vested interests in the tax and customs sectors.

“I have no other agenda. I am accountable only to the president,” he said. “As long as we stay straight and don’t play with money, there is nothing to fear.”

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