REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI) will distribute IDR money (rupiah) to remote and border areas through 120 national banks. Deputy Governor of BI, Ronald Waas said the step was very urgent.

"Don't let foreign currencies take over and control transactions in those areas,  it must be our own currency. Indonesia had lost two islands (Sipadan and Ligitan which is now owned Malaysia ) because people were difficult to access rupiah," Waas said on Wednesday.

Until May 2013, BI has circulated money worth 403 trillion IDR. Rupiah's circulation increased by 15 to 16 percent per year. BI has been working with the Indonesian Navy to distribute rupiah to remote and border areas, . Navy already circulated the rupiah to Papua, Ambon, Manado, Batam, Miangas and Natuna.

Indonesian territory which has not been so affordable is on the border line of North Borneo, the islands over Manado, the East and South Maluku, up to outer islands of Nusa Tenggara. BI also plans to cooperate with the Indonesian Army to distribute rupiah to all areas of Papua that border to Papua New Guinea. 

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika