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Controversy erupts over SOE roles for rectors
Experts warn about potential conflict of interests that may threaten academic freedom in Indonesia
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The University of Indonesia rectorate building in Depok, West Java. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he recent resignation of University of Indonesia rector Ari Kuncoro from his role in a state-owned enterprise (SOE) has once again highlighted that the commissioners of SOEs often hold dual roles, with experts warning about potential conflict of interests that may threaten academic freedom.
Ari resigned last month from the vice president commissioner position at state-owned lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI). His resignation came following a public backlash over a recent change in the university’s statute that was seen to have been made to allow Ari to serve as both UI rector and BRI commissioner.
However, Ari was not the only rector to hold other positions outside the university. Komaruddin Hidayat, rector of Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII), also holds a commissioner post at Bank Syariah Indonesia, a state-owned sharia bank, in violation of the university’s statute.
UIII’s statute, outlined in Government Regulation No. 23/2019, bars university rectors and vice rectors from holding other positions in a political party, SOEs and other academic institutions. Violation of the provision could result in dismissal.
Komaruddin reportedly had asked the permission of the university’s board of trustees and the Vice Presidential Secretariat before accepting the position in Bank Syariah Indonesia, as reported by kompas.com.
Head of the Vice Presidential Secretariat Mohamad Oemar had denied Komaruddin’s claim, saying the secretariat had no authority to recommend anyone for a commissioner role at an SOE or any other company, as reported by antaranews.com.
Komaruddin and Ari’s cases are part of a wider pattern of double-jobbing among SOE commissioners. According to a study by Transparency International Indonesia (TII), a Jakarta-based anti-corruption watchdog, as of March, only 85 out of 482 active commissioners of state-owned companies had a professional background in other state-owned or private firms.
