Anwar pledges to boost BI's independence
Anwar pledges to boost BI's independence
JAKARTA (JP): Anwar Nasution, who was selected by the House of
Representatives on Monday as senior deputy governor of the
central bank, has pledged to focus on helping the governor make
the institution fully independent in carrying out its duties.
Anwar said on Tuesday that Bank Indonesia (BI) should
be cleaned of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the bid to
establish integrity and credibility.
"But, please, don't ask me too many questions now. Let us see
after I start working at BI." He added that it should be
remembered he ranked as the second highest official at the bank.
Anwar revealed he would resign forthwith from the supervisory
boards of commissioners of state-owned cementmaker PT Semen
Gresik and port operator PT Pelindo II.
He also will resign from a number of positions in the business
sector.
"But I will keep the ones that are noncommercial as it is
allowed by law," he said, adding that his new position would
slash his income to a third of its present total.
Anwar said the House on Tuesday morning approved him remaining
dean of the School of Economics at the University of Indonesia.
"There is no law banning a senior official of BI from holding
noncommercial positions at other institutions simultaneously."
Anwar, the most vocal critic of the central bank since the
early 1980s, was selected for the newly created post of senior
deputy governor from a shortlist of three candidates proposed by
President B.J. Habibie on June 4.
The other nominees were the president commissioner of state
Bank Mandiri, Binhadi, and the deputy for fiscal and monetary
policy at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas),
Sukarno Wirokartono.
Legislators also approved on Monday the reappointment of six
central bank deputy governors, who previously served as
directors.
Subarjo Joyosumarto and Achjar Iljas were both appointed
deputy governors for three-year terms, Achwan and Dono Iskandar
for two-year terms, and Iwan Prawiranata and Aulia Pohan for one-
year terms.
Habibie in May reappointed Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril
Sabirin to lead the central bank and Miranda S. Goeltom as deputy
governor, both for four-year terms, under the new central bank
law.
The law is designed to free the central bank of political
intervention and make it independent in deciding monetary policy.
The law bars the president from dismissing the governor or
members of the board of governors.(udi)