resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo seeks to tighten his grip on key state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by reshuffling their executives and ensuring that the new appointees are able and willing to support the development agenda for his second term in office.
Jokowi is now leading a team tasked with reviewing all SOEs and — if necessary — appointing new president directors, presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rahman said over the weekend. “The President has asserted that there is only [his] vision and mission, there is no vision and mission of ministers; the same goes for SOEs.”
Arya Sinulingga, an aide to State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, confirmed that the appointment of top executives at state-owned companies would only be done in accordance with the President’s vision and mission.
“SOEs are major contributors to the country’s economic growth. If the SOEs are good, then the economy is also good. Pak Jokowi has a policy that will significantly influence the policies of SOEs. This is where he’s going with his vision and mission,” Arya told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
“Minister Erick Thohir has always consulted with Pak Jokowi regarding all things related to SOE management, including the appointment of top [executives].”
The government is currently reviewing at least five strategic SOEs: Indonesia’s largest state-owned lender, Bank Mandiri, state housing lender BTN, state-owned mining holding company Inalum, state electricity firm PLN and state energy holding company Pertamina.
All the companies except for Pertamina (now led by Nicke Widyawati) currently have leadership vacuums. Former Inalum president director Budi Gunadi Sadikin and former Mandiri president director Kartika Wirjoatmodjo have recently been appointed deputy SOE ministers.
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