Theo to resign as BKPM chief<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following reports of his much-criticized assault on foreign
\nresidents at a children's sports event, Investment Coordinating
\nBoard (BKPM) chief Theo Toemion announced on Sunday he would
\nresign from his current post.<\/p>\n
\"I will send my resignation letter to President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono tomorrow (Monday),\" he said when visiting The Jakarta
\nPost to speak about the incident.<\/p>\n
\"The sooner the better (to give up the job). This is only my
\nsacrifice for the country,\" Theo added.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the
\ngovernment would soon replace Theo due to \"poor performance\", but
\nstressed that the decision had nothing to do with the recent
\nincident at an international school here.<\/p>\n
In response, Theo denied that his replacement plan was because
\nof poor performance. \"During the last three months, the question
\nhas been whether the BKPM will be dissolved or not, so we have
\nnot been able to work.\"<\/p>\n
Theo said he was concerned over the reported plan to eliminate
\nthe investment board while he was finalizing a bill to make it a
\none-roof service agency for investors.<\/p>\n
He said he was also fed up with all the talk of security and
\nlaw and order needed to secure foreign investment. \"We need
\ninfrastructure and competitiveness. But they (other officials)
\nwon't listen to me. They only listen to the companies already
\nhere.\"<\/p>\n
Kalla said the government had been reviewing the performance
\nof the investment board, including its chief, for the past three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, we have picked three candidates to fill the
\nboard's top post, and we will announce the chief quite soon. Note
\nthat the change has nothing whatsoever to do with the assault
\ncase,\" Kalla said.<\/p>\n
Theo reportedly struck a 14-year-old student referee and
\nscuffled 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, trying to
\ngrab the shoulder of the woman coordinating the competition and
\noverturning furniture after his son fouled out of the game.<\/p>\n
According to witnesses, Theo reportedly became physical with
\nfour U.S. executives and an Australian businessman, who had
\nstepped in to stop the violence.<\/p>\n
Defending his actions, Theo said his son was being unfairly
\ntreated and discriminated against. Theo also reiterated that he
\nhad sent a letter of apology to the people concerned and the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
Theo, a former legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI-P), was appointed to head the investment board
\nin June 2001. His five-year term was scheduled to end in 2006.<\/p>\n
He was appointed by PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, when
\nshe was the vice president.<\/p>\n
Theo, a currency analyst-turned-politician, was a member of
\nthe House of Representatives Commission IX for state budget and
\nfinance. He was also the head of the House special team debating
\nthe government-proposed bill on the amendment of the central bank
\nlaw.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/theo-to-resign-as-bkpm-chief-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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