Jakarta. Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said a vote for Britain to leave the European Union — a move widely known as Brexit — in this week's referendum will have limited impact on Indonesia, hence the lack of preparations to mitigate any possible negative consequences.

"Even the smallest change has the potential to disturb the financial sector on an unpredictable scale, which can have a small effect, moderate, or significant effect," Bambang said on Wednesday (22/06).

"We are part of the global financial sector that will definitely be affected through currencies or the capital market. [...] Indonesia is only small part of the global financial system," the minister added.

British voters will decide on Thursday whether to remain in the EU or exit the bloc, in its second history-changing referendum of the decade.

Robert Pakpahan, director general of debt management at the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, said Brexit might affect rupiah liquidity when the government sells bonds. However, he also dismissed any potential long-term negative effects Britain's decision would have on Indonesia.

"It might affect demand on the local stock market, where foreigners play a strong role. If they decide to leave [the EU], supply and demand from foreigners will decrease [...] and stock prices will fall," he said, pointing out that any impact would be temporary.

Despite the limited potential effect, Brexit has gripped the attention of local role players, including ministers and central bankers.

National Development Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil said on Tuesday that he hopes Brexit will not happen as it would create more uncertainty in the global economy.

"[Indonesia] will be indirectly affected by it. [...] We don't know how big the impact will be," he said.

Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Perry Warjiyo said last week that Brexit would likely have an impact on investment from Britain but that  European countries would be most directly affected.

He said Brexit would not have a massive impact on emerging economies, including Indonesia.