President installs Luthfi as BKPM head<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has dismissed Theo Toemion as
\nhead of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and appointed
\nhis former aide during the 2004 presidential election campaign to
\nsit in the post.<\/p>\n
\"A decree has been signed by the President on the appointment
\nof M. Luthfi as BKPM's new chairman, and the suspension of Theo,\"
\nPresidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng told the press on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Susilo signed the decree on either Monday or Tuesday, he said.<\/p>\n
Luthfi, a former chairman of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs
\nAssociation (HIPMI), was an aide to Susilo during the
\npresidential campaign last year. Theo, a former Indonesia
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) legislator, was appointed as
\nBKPM head by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Theo allegedly struck a 14-year-old student referee and
\nquarreled briefly with foreign residents at the Jakarta
\nInternational School (JIS) during a basketball competition in
\nwhich Theo's seven-year-old son was playing on April 17.<\/p>\n
Theo admitted to slapping the referee in the face after his
\nson was pulled from a children's basketball game. He also
\nreportedly attacked four American executives and an Australian
\nbusinessman for attempting to intervene. However, Theo branded
\nthe reports were exaggerating.<\/p>\n
Following the incident, Theo said he would tender his letter
\nof resignation as BKPM chief.<\/p>\n
Andi said that after checking with the secretary to the
\nPresident, there was no resignation letter from Theo.<\/p>\n
\"I have checked with the president's secretary. To date, there
\nhas been no resignation letter from Pak Theo,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It was already time for Theo to be replaced, Andi said.<\/p>\n
\"It was based on professional concerns, and also to give new
\nspirit to the investment environment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government plans to strip away some of the authority of
\nthe BKPM to issue investment approvals in a bid to attract more
\nforeign investment.<\/p>\n
The move is expected to reduce the amount of time needed for
\nforeign businesses to start operations here. Until now, the BKPM
\nhas been authorized to process all investment permits and certain
\nother licenses related to business activity.<\/p>\n
The government has also lowered the status of the BKPM and put
\nit under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade. However, it
\nwill continue to directly report to the President.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-installs-luthfi-as-bkpm-head-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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