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The wait is over: Ahok appointed Pertamina president commissioner
Jokowi and Ahok have had a close relationship since the two men served together as Jakarta governor and deputy governor respectively.
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Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (kompas.com/Ghinan Salman)
S
tate-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has confirmed that former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has been appointed the new president commissioner of state-owned energy holding company Pertamina.
“Insya Allah [God willing], [President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo] has decided that Pak Basuki will be the new Pertamina president commissioner,” Erick told the press at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
Jokowi and Ahok have had a close relationship since the two men served together as Jakarta governor and deputy governor respectively.
Ahok, Erick said, would be accompanied by deputy minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin who would serve as vice president commissioner of the oil and gas company.
The appointment aimed to reduce oil and gas imports that had long burdened the country’s trade balance, said Erick, adding that he needed a good team to help accelerate the development of six oil refineries across the country.
Read also: From political ashes, Ahok rises to top corporate job
“I think we need a groundbreaking figure [to lead the SOEs] so we can achieve our targets,” said the businessman-turned-bureaucrat.
