'€œI will continue the project because the project is developed outside of my state-owned ministry-related works,'€ Dahlan said after the ministry'€™s weekly meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

For the project, Dahlan has recruited researchers who he calls the Pandawa Putra Petir (the five finest youths) to help him develop electric cars, from city cars to luxury ones. His aim is to ultimately establish a national car brand.

Dahlan has been developing the project since 2012 and has received the support of outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

'€œThe time has come for the project to be continued. I am ready to become a socio-preneur,'€ he said, explaining that a socio-preneur was someone that ran a business for the benefit of community development.

Electric car development used to be on everyone'€™s lips at one time but has rarely been heard of more recently.

Some people said that it was no longer a hot topic because the former CEO of the state-owned electricity company, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), was busy managing 138 state-run enterprises.

The Jokowi government is due to announce its Cabinet members on Oct. 20, having kept the names under wraps for weeks. (dyl/nfo)(++++)

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