RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) has raised concerns about mounting pressure on the state budget (APBN) following soaring global oil prices and the strengthening of the US dollar.

Commission VI lawmaker Muhammad Sarmuji urged the government to take immediate preventive measures to safeguard fiscal stability.

“Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran have triggered a spike in global oil prices above USD 100 per barrel, and the strengthening of the US dollar has the potential to increase the burden of energy subsidies in the state budget. The government must respond to this situation immediately and seriously,” Sarmuji said in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The stronger US dollar has pushed the rupiah exchange rate to IDR 17,000 per US dollar at the start of trading on Monday, March 9, 2026. “Additionally, in rupiah terms, the reinforcement of the US dollar immediately raises Indonesia’s foreign debt load. This means the government’s payment obligations become greater when converted into rupiah,” he said.

Sarmuji called on the Ministry of Finance to begin modeling different fiscal scenarios to anticipate potential risks to the national budget. He said such measures would enable the government to prepare mitigation strategies if international pressures continue to rise.

He stressed that these steps must be carried out transparently and in a coordinated manner, given their wide impact on national economic stability. “A situation like this necessitates robust collaboration and open communication so that the government, the House of Representatives, and the public are aware of the mitigation measures being prepared,” he said.

Sarmuji added that the DPR will continue to monitor global developments that could affect Indonesia’s economy. He emphasized that Indonesia’s economic resilience amid geopolitical instability depends on the government’s ability to anticipate risks. “We cannot prevent global turmoil, but we must be able to manage its impact on the national economy effectively. Thus, preventative measures must be taken right away,” he said. ***