Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has appointed an executive from a private water operator to lead city water firm PAM Jaya.

PT Aetra Air Jakarta (Aetra) former corporate secretary Prayitno Bambang Hernowo was appointed as new PAM Jaya president director to replace Erlan Hidayat, who had led the company since 2015.

The replacement was made amid the company’s struggle to take control of the city’s tap water service toward the end of contracts with two private operators, Aetra and PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya.  

"The letter has just been issued; from today onward I am in charge,” Priyatno said at Friday afternoon.

The Jakarta administration has been seeking to end water privatization in the city, which many have complained has been stagnant for two decades, despite the existence of the two operators.

The Supreme Court has also recently ordered the administration and the central government to abolish the privatization in a class action lawsuit petitioned by Jakarta residents on the grounds that the practice has disadvantaged the people.

Read also: Group challenges judicial review on water privatization

Although he came from one of the two operators, Priyanto claimed, he would act professionally.

Erlan had been in charge of a tumultuous time, leading the company during the transition to end privatization in the past year. His proposal of a new water contract that still involved the two private operators — albeit their poor performance — was rejected by Anies.

By appointing an executive from Aetra, the administration may eventually involve the old operators in future tap water management. (stu)