Bambang, Indra resign from Bimantara<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former strongman Soeharto's second son and son-
\nin-law have resigned from publicly listed PT Bimantara Citra amid
\nmounting public demands for an investigation into the family's
\nwealth.<\/p>\n
Bambang Trihatmodjo resigned as president director and Indra
\nRukmana, married to Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti,
\nresigned as chief commissioner, the company said after a
\nshareholders meeting yesterday.<\/p>\n
The shareholders then elected Mohamad Tachril Sap'ie president
\nand Rosano Barack chief commissioner.<\/p>\n
Rosano said Bambang resigned from Bimantara in April not
\nbecause of the unfavorable political situation but because of the
\ncompany's poor performance.<\/p>\n
\"He feels that he failed to maintain the company's
\nperformance, especially last year as our net profit dropped
\nsharply to only Rp 11.4 billion (about US$1 million),\" Rosano
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The company booked a net profit of Rp 157.5 billion in 1996.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Peter F. Gontha added that Bambang resigned
\nbecause he wanted a professional to navigate the company through
\nthe crisis.<\/p>\n
Neither Bambang nor Indra showed up at yesterday's meeting.
\nThe pair remain Bimantara's biggest shareholders. Bambang owns
\nmore than 38 percent of the company and Indra about 14 percent.<\/p>\n
While the shareholders meeting was in progress dozens of
\nstudent activists held a demonstration in front of the Bimantara
\nbuilding, demanding Bambang surrender to the people his wealth
\naccrued illegally.<\/p>\n
The protesters from political non-governmental organization
\nPijar Indonesia arrived at the office on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central
\nJakarta, at about 9:30 a.m., stretching out a big banner reading
\n\"Seize All Soeharto's and His Family's Assets.\"<\/p>\n
Dozens of Bimantara's employees watched the demonstration
\nwhich dispersed peacefully before Friday prayers.<\/p>\n
Responding to mounting public demands to investigate and seize
\nthe Soeharto family's wealth, Gontha said Bimantara, as a
\npublicly listed company, would remain open for authorized parties
\nto look into its operations.<\/p>\n
Gontha also said Bimantara was prepared to surrender any
\ncontracts that could be proven to be results of corruption,
\ncollusion or nepotism.<\/p>\n
\"All the contracts we have are transparent,\" he said. \"If a
\ncontract is overvalued because of collusion, corruption or
\nnepotism, we are willing to give it up.\"<\/p>\n
Bimantara, founded by Bambang in 1981, booked total assets of
\nRp 3.86 trillion as of the end of last year, up from Rp 2.5
\ntrillion at the end of 1996.<\/p>\n
The company currently possesses 29 subsidiaries, which are
\ngrouped into seven lines of business: media, telecommunications,
\ninfrastructure, transportation, chemical industries, property and
\nfinancial services.<\/p>\n
Some analysts predict that Bimantara, like any other company
\nwith strong links to Soeharto, will suffer in the future as the
\nmovement against corruption, collusion and nepotism gains
\nmomentum.<\/p>\n
The head of research at Socgen-Crosby Securities Indonesia,
\nGoei Siauw Hong, said Bambang's and Indra's resignation from
\nBimantara would not affect the company significantly in the
\nfuture as \"they have become liabilities now.\"<\/p>\n
He predicted that Bimantara would not perform as well as
\nbefore because some of its lucrative contracts with government
\nand state firms would likely be reviewed.<\/p>\n
There have been mounting public demands for a review of the
\nawarding of government contracts to Soeharto-linked companies and
\nto investigate the assets of the former president and his family.<\/p>\n
Some companies linked to Soeharto have suffered since the
\nformer general handed over power to his protege and deputy, B.J.
\nHabibie, last week, after 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
The country's largest bank, Bank Central Asia, owned by Siti
\nHardijanti, her brother Sigit Harjojudanto and Soeharto's close
\nassociate Sudono Salim or Liem Sioe Liong and Liem's son Anthony
\nSalim, has been put under the supervision of the Indonesian Bank
\nRestructuring Agency following two weeks of runs on deposits.
\n(jun\/aly\/rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bambang-indra-resign-from-bimantara-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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