Finance minister admits being on Pertamina payroll<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Boediono on Monday confirmed reports he is
\nan advisor to the board of commissioners of state oil and gas
\nfirm PT Pertamina.<\/p>\n
But he denied getting a handsome monthly salary of about Rp 75
\nmillion (around US$8,000) for the job.<\/p>\n
\"I receive a salary much lower than that (Rp 75 million). I
\nwon't say the figure, just check with Pertamina,\" Boediono said.<\/p>\n
Boediono said he advised Pertamina about the government policy
\non fuel subsidies, the prospects for the oil industry and about
\nthe current transition of Pertamina into a limited liability
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
Boediono, long regarded as a modest and hardworking
\nbureaucrat, came under the spotlight after Pertamina was
\ncriticized about the controversial sale of two giant oil tankers.
\nSome critics said the sale of the assets had not been conducted
\nproperly as Pertamina management had not consulted with Boediono.<\/p>\n
According to reports, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
\nPurnomo Yusgiantoro also acted as an advisor to Pertamina.<\/p>\n
In documents received by The Jakarta Post signed by
\nPertamina's chief commissioner, Laksamana Sukardi, who is also
\nState Minister of State Enterprises, Boediono provides
\nPertamina's board of commissioners with advice about fuel
\nsubsidies and business development.<\/p>\n
Purnomo, meanwhile was a consultant regarding market
\ndevelopment, crude oil prices, the provision of fuel products for
\ndomestic consumption and government subsidies.<\/p>\n
For their work, the ministers receive a salary equal to that
\nreceived by the chief commissioner. Trust magazine reported the
\nchief commissioner of Pertamina receives about Rp 75 million a
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Pertamina allegedly pays this handsome salary despite claims
\nit has been suffering cash flow problems. Other reports say the
\ncommissioners recently approved a rise in the salaries of the
\ncompany's board of directors and commissioners.<\/p>\n
Pertamina finance director Alfred Rohimone said the company's
\ncash flows had dropped to critical level of below Rp 2 trillion.
\nThe company must have sufficient funds to import crude oil and
\noil-based products to maintain a safe level of national stocks.<\/p>\n
Pertamina said its dire financial situation had prompted the
\nsale of two giant tankers, which are currently being built by
\nSouth Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, economist Revrisond Baswir of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity said the appointment of ministers as advisors to
\nPertamina violated the State Enterprise Law.<\/p>\n
\"According to the law, there are no (regulations creating the)
\npositions of advisors to state enterprises. The (positions) are
\nfabricated,\" he said as quoted by Detikcom.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/finance-minister-admits-being-on-pertamina-payroll-1447893297",
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