Puditry: A give-and-take business<\/p>\n
By Devi M. Asmarani and Ahmad Junaidi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): What some people perceive as success may not
\nreflect the perception of others.<\/p>\n
That concludes one property expert's job philosophy.<\/p>\n
"In terms of accumulating wealth, I may be far behind my
\npeers, but my knowledge has accelerated since I decided to quit
\nbeing an employee," Panangian Simanungkalit says.<\/p>\n
Before he became known as an authority on property, Panangian
\nspent seven years working for a foreign property consulting
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
A fling with the media in the early 1990's marked the
\nbeginning of his career as an observer in a sector he shared so
\nmuch passion for.<\/p>\n
Back then he succeeded in convincing several local business
\nmagazines to uncover what he saw as a threat of overinvesting in
\nthe property industry.<\/p>\n
"The press is my bridge of departure from the professional
\nworld to the world of observer," he recalls.<\/p>\n
Less than a decade later he has founded and owns two property
\nconsulting companies, a property agency, one center of property
\nstudies, and the Indonesian Property Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n
His earnings have soared since the salary days ("my living
\ncost is linear, I don't play golf or have exotic hobbies"), his
\nface often graces the TV screen, he sells ideas and knowledge to
\nhis students and listeners at seminars, and he is the celebrated
\npride of relatives.<\/p>\n
He lives a "stress-less life" ("I only get depressed when
\nthinking of this country"), and takes pride in having never
\nindulged in graft practices.<\/p>\n
"My self-esteem springs from the fact that I've never
\ncolluded, unlike those who own many cars. I believe I have come
\nto full self-actualization," he says.<\/p>\n
Now who wouldn't want to live like him?<\/p>\n
It is an intriguing life whether you're a sassy academic with
\na fashionable suit complete with the secretary scarf like Sri
\nMulyani or an ironic economist piercing the government with quips
\nlike Hartojo Wignjowijoto or a witty intellectual talk show host
\nlike Wimar Witoelar.<\/p>\n
But our curiosity remains: how does Sri Mulyani afford those
\nbranded outfits on a civil servant's salary as a professor in
\nUniversity of Indonesia (UI). How come Wimar drives a BMW? What
\nwill Sjahrir do now that he's announced retirement from the
\npunditry business?<\/p>\n
Let's see.<\/p>\n
Sri Mulyani runs UI's Institute for Economic and Social
\nResearch, a profitable consultancy. Wimar, besides the talk show,
\nowns the communication firm PT Inter Matrix, and Sjahrir owns
\nseveral companies including PT Sjahrir Securities.<\/p>\n
They are not alone, most economists run their own consulting
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
Hartojo Wignjowijoto owns the Asia Pacific Economic Indonesia
\nKreasi Indonesia, Rizal Ramli, Laksamana Sukardi and other
\neconomists formed the Econit Advisory Group, the latter also runs
\nhis own ReFORM Consulting.<\/p>\n
But aside from assisting companies, these so-called experts,
\nare also some of the most often heard speakers in various public
\nforums in the country.<\/p>\n
Some of them would try to convince you that the money out of
\nseminars and workshops is not significant.<\/p>\n
"I make a rule of not making money an issue when I'm invited
\nto speak in a seminar," says automotive observer Suhari Sargo.<\/p>\n
But he mentions the Rp 250,000 (US$28.4) that event organizers
\nnormally give him, a paltry figure compared to some high-profile
\nfigures.<\/p>\n
Hari Ganda, the managing director of the Institute of
\nManagement Education and Development (LPPM) says his company pays
\nexperts between Rp 2.5 million and Rp 5 million each, depending
\non their prominence and the events' participants.<\/p>\n
But most much sought after experts like Sri Mulyani, Wimar and
\nmarket analyst Theo Toemeon could earn between Rp 4 million to Rp
\n8 million per event, sources said.<\/p>\n
Panangian says he gets paid Rp 5 million per seminar, up from
\nthe Rp 2 million average he told The Jakarta Post about late last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The practice of paying them, however, most often seems a bit
\nshady.<\/p>\n
Many experts do not impose charges on event organizers out of
\npride. But they do get envelopes containing what is known by the
\neuphemism "transport money" at the end of the event. Some say
\nthis is to evade tax hassles.<\/p>\n
Hari is quick to point out that LPPM pays its experts openly.<\/p>\n
"We do not call the payment a transportation fee or anything
\nelse. It's strictly business," he says.<\/p>\n
In television this envelope culture also exists.<\/p>\n
Riza Permadi, the host of SCTV's 'Dibalik Berita' ('Behind the
\nNews') talk show admits that guests at his show and the TV's
\nafternoon and evening news receive an "insignificant transport
\nfee".<\/p>\n
Inside sources estimate the amount for guests on the evening
\nnews at around Rp 500,000. Not bad for about 10 minutes
\nconversation.<\/p>\n
Television works magic in promoting people, so says Andreas
\nAmbesa, Indosiar's public relations executive says, commenting on
\nWimar, who hosts the Selayang Pandang talk show.<\/p>\n
"He's pretty negotiable in terms of money, but you have to
\nremember that he has an interest in it too to promote himself,"
\nhe says.<\/p>",
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