Bankers want 'market-friendly' deputy governor for BI
Tony Hotland, Jakarta
Bankers expressed expectations on Tuesday that the next senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) should be "market friendly" and possesses good knowledge about banking, monetary issues and independence.
Chairman of the Association of State Banks (Himbara) Rudjito said the position should be filled by someone who could be accepted by the financial market to collaborate with BI Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.
"The current governor has established positive market sentiment. Therefore, the new senior deputy governor should be able to adjust to the situation and be accepted by the market," said Rudjito during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission IX on finance.
The commission is expected to select a new senior deputy governor of BI to replace Anwar Nasution, whose five-year term will expire on July 26. Anwar is currently being nominated to fill the top spot at the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).
The candidates are Miranda S. Goeltom (former deputy governor, Hartadi A. Sarwono (currently a deputy governor) and Budi Rochadi (head of BI's Tokyo office).
Rudjito, also the president of state Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), added that the chosen official should have adequate knowledge of monetary, banking and payment systems.
Also present at the meeting were chairman of the National Private Banks Association (Perbanas) Agus Martowardojo and head of the Federation of BI Employees Lucky Fathul.
Agus said that the government and the House should consider candidates from commercial banks when appointing people to positions on the central bank's board.
"It can give color to the board, and the law allows it to do so. I think that those who come from commercial banks really know the details about banking systems because they are the players," said Agus, who is the president of Bank Permata.
None was willing to drop a hint about their favorite.
Commission deputy head Faisal Baasir said that the government should have conducted a public hearing before proposing names to the commission to avoid resistance from the market or from the banking community.
He added that the selection of the new senior deputy governor could even be delayed until the new government was formed, if all three candidates failed a test of suitability.
All three candidates will undergo the test on Wednesday and the result is expected on the same day. The commission will then propose one name to the President for approval.
However, commission head Emir Moeis said there was a possibility that the commission would not complete the test because it also had to discuss the selection of BPK's new board members on Wednesday, which was already past the deadline.