President Prabowo Subianto has assured the public that the government will resolve the financial difficulties plaguing the Whoosh Jakarta–Bandung high-speed train project.

Addressing at the inauguration of the newly renovated Tanah Abang Railway Station in Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Prabowo said there was “nothing to worry about” regarding the project’s financial condition.

“Don’t worry about the noise surrounding Whoosh. I have studied the problem there is no issue. I take full responsibility. Indonesia is not a trivial country. Everything has been calculated,” Prabowo told the attending officials and guests.

The president added that the high-speed train, a joint project between Indonesia and China, remains a symbol of national progress and technological advancement.

“(State railway operator) PT KAI should not worry. We serve the people. All technology, all facilities … that’s our collective responsibility. Ultimately, it’s the president’s responsibility. So now, I’m responsible for Whoosh,” he said.

Former KAI president’s palace appearance

President Prabowo Subianto has assured the public that the government will resolve the financial difficulties plaguing the Whoosh Jakarta–Bandung high-speed train project.

Addressing at the inauguration of the newly renovated Tanah Abang Railway Station in Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Prabowo said there was “nothing to worry about” regarding the project’s financial condition.

“Don’t worry about the noise surrounding Whoosh. I have studied the problem there is no issue. I take full responsibility. Indonesia is not a trivial country. Everything has been calculated,” Prabowo told the attending officials and guests.

The president added that the high-speed train, a joint project between Indonesia and China, remains a symbol of national progress and technological advancement.

“(State railway operator) PT KAI should not worry. We serve the people. All technology, all facilities … that’s our collective responsibility. Ultimately, it’s the president’s responsibility. So now, I’m responsible for Whoosh,” he said.

Former KAI president’s palace appearance

The president’s statement came a day after Ignasius Jonan, the former president director of PT KAI who oversaw the company’s major reforms in the early 2010s, made a surprise appearance at the Presidential Palace on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Jonan’s visit drew public attention as it coincided with mounting debate over the ballooning debt of the Whoosh project and the government’s plan to restructure its financing.

When asked by reporters, Jonan declined to confirm whether his visit was linked to discussions on the high-speed train.

“I don’t want to comment on that. Maybe it was about the train, maybe not. I’m already retired, so I don’t follow the issue closely,” Jonan said briefly before entering the palace complex.

Jonan said he had been invited by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and was merely fulfilling the invitation. He brought no documents or materials related to the project.

Jonan’s meeting with President Prabowo reportedly lasted for nearly two hours, from 3:34 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. However, he insisted that the discussion did not touch on the high-speed train’s finances.

“No, we didn’t discuss the train. I wasn’t asked to give input on that,” he told reporters afterward.

Instead, Jonan described the encounter as an informal conversation about Prabowo’s broader policy agenda, including foreign diplomacy, state-owned enterprise (SOE) development, and the role of SOEs in national progress.

“It was simply a discussion as a citizen, about government programs and how the president is developing the country,” Jonan said.

AHY also summoned

Earlier on Monday, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) also met with Prabowo at the Palace. AHY confirmed that the Whoosh issue was among several topics discussed.

“We reported to the president and sought his guidance on a number of matters, including the high-speed train,” AHY said.

“Use of State budget (APBN) will be part of the scheme to resolve Whoosh debt, but we’ll inform its details later,” he cited.

Sources familiar with the matter said the government is preparing a debt restructuring plan for the project amid rising concerns over repayment obligations.

Background

The Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, branded Whoosh, has faced persistent challenges since its launch, including cost overruns, schedule delays, and ballooning debt linked to construction and interest expenses. The project, jointly financed by Indonesia’s PT KAI and a consortium of Chinese firms, has become a test of Prabowo’s economic management in his first year in office.

While critics warn of fiscal risks, Prabowo’s latest statement signals his intention to stabilize confidence, both within the government and among investors as Indonesia seeks to expand its transport infrastructure without jeopardizing its financial discipline.

The president’s statement came a day after Ignasius Jonan, the former president director of PT KAI who oversaw the company’s major reforms in the early 2010s, made a surprise appearance at the Presidential Palace on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Jonan’s visit drew public attention as it coincided with mounting debate over the ballooning debt of the Whoosh project and the government’s plan to restructure its financing.

When asked by reporters, Jonan declined to confirm whether his visit was linked to discussions on the high-speed train.

“I don’t want to comment on that. Maybe it was about the train, maybe not. I’m already retired, so I don’t follow the issue closely,” Jonan said briefly before entering the palace complex.

Jonan said he had been invited by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and was merely fulfilling the invitation. He brought no documents or materials related to the project.

Jonan’s meeting with President Prabowo reportedly lasted for nearly two hours, from 3:34 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. However, he insisted that the discussion did not touch on the high-speed train’s finances.

“No, we didn’t discuss the train. I wasn’t asked to give input on that,” he told reporters afterward.

Instead, Jonan described the encounter as an informal conversation about Prabowo’s broader policy agenda, including foreign diplomacy, state-owned enterprise (SOE) development, and the role of SOEs in national progress.

“It was simply a discussion as a citizen, about government programs and how the president is developing the country,” Jonan said.

AHY also summoned

Earlier on Monday, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) also met with Prabowo at the Palace. AHY confirmed that the Whoosh issue was among several topics discussed.

“We reported to the president and sought his guidance on a number of matters, including the high-speed train,” AHY said.

“Use of State budget (APBN) will be part of the scheme to resolve Whoosh debt, but we’ll inform its details later,” he cited.

Sources familiar with the matter said the government is preparing a debt restructuring plan for the project amid rising concerns over repayment obligations.

Background

The Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Rail, branded Whoosh, has faced persistent challenges since its launch, including cost overruns, schedule delays, and ballooning debt linked to construction and interest expenses. The project, jointly financed by Indonesia’s PT KAI and a consortium of Chinese firms, has become a test of Prabowo’s economic management in his first year in office.

While critics warn of fiscal risks, Prabowo’s latest statement signals his intention to stabilize confidence, both within the government and among investors as Indonesia seeks to expand its transport infrastructure without jeopardizing its financial discipline.