"Dream - The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) responded to the statement of Presidential Candidate Number 02, Prabowo Subianto, who mentioned that the budget of the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) was largely not approved by the Ministry of Finance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Special Staff of the Minister of Finance, Yustinus Prastowo, explained that the budget reduction for Ministries or Institutions (KL) was due to the fact that the state budget at that time was largely used for handling Covid-19, including through budget refocusing policies."

"Through the decision of the Cabinet Meeting and followed up with various coordination, the budget refocusing carried out during the covid pandemic applies to all Ministries and Institutions (K/L) through the re-prioritization of spending by K/L, in order to address the impact of the covid-19 pandemic," wrote Yustinus Prastowo in an official statement, quoted on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

"KL itself understands the most urgent and priority activities and programs that can be postponed due to the Pandemic," said Prastowo. He emphasized that the implementation of the budget by ministries or agencies is carried out in accordance with applicable regulations, and is subsequently audited by the Financial Audit Agency (BPK) and accounted for to the DPR."

"I have indeed been the Minister of Defense for four years, but we were disrupted by Covid-19 for 2 years during which there was a refocusing. So many of our proposals were not approved by the Minister of Finance," said Prabowo at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday, January 7, 2024. "So as a minister, a team player, I must be loyal, I do not speak much in public," Prabowo revealed.