The government shook up the top management of state-owned logistics firm Bulog on Friday following a series of similar moves on other state-owned enterprises recently. 

Former National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso replaced Djarot Kusumayakti, who had served as Bulog president director for nearly three years.

The government also dismissed Bulog finance director Pardiman and appointed Triyana to fill the position, while assigning former presidential chief of staff Teten Masduki as its supervisory board member to replace Sudar Sastro Atmojo.

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The State-Owned Enterprises Ministry's undersecretary for industrial, agriculture and pharmacy affairs, Wahyu Kuncoro, said the decision was taken to strengthen Bulog’s role in stabilizing the prices of basic commodities. 

“It is one of the ways to refresh Bulog’s management. On the other hand, we are also pushing Bulog to fortify its role in maintaining the prices of grain from farmers, stabilizing [the supply of] food commodities and distributing rice for the subsidy program that targets the poor,” he said in a statement. 

Wahyu further said that the government had also taken into consideration a recurrent problem of commodity price hikes during Ramadhan fasting month, which this year will fall in May. 

“We hope the new management can support the government’s effort to manage food prices and the stocks, especially during religious holidays,” he added. (lnd)