BP BUMN Head Condemns Criminalisation of Elderly Mujiran, Issues Stern Warning to PTPN
Head of BP BUMN and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Danantara, Dony Oskaria, has issued a stern warning to the management of PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) following the criminalisation of elderly man Mujiran in Lampung. The case came to light after Mujiran was prosecuted for collecting residual rubber sap on PTPN-owned plantation land.
Dony Oskaria strongly condemned the inhumane approach to resolving the issue and reminded all state-owned enterprises (BUMNs) of their fundamental purpose.
“I strongly condemn the reporting and criminalisation of ordinary citizens, especially an elderly man like Mujiran. BUMNs belong to the people, built with public funds, and mandated to maximise benefits for the public. There must be no room for BUMNs to act arrogantly or treat citizens in this manner,” Dony Oskaria stated in Jakarta on Sunday (24 May).
Dony further stressed that criminalising impoverished citizens merely trying to survive severely damages BUMNs’ integrity. As a follow-up measure, BP BUMN and Danantara have issued three strict directives to PTPN’s board.
First, halt legal proceedings. PTPN is instructed to immediately withdraw the report and cease all legal processes or intimidation against Mujiran.
Dony personally apologised as BP BUMN Head for the incident undermining justice. He also mandated PTPN’s local leadership to personally meet Mujiran and his family to deliver a formal institutional apology.
“As BP BUMN Head, I apologise to Mujiran and his family. I reiterate that BUMNs belong to the people and are built with public funds,” Dony said.
Another directive involves providing assistance and employment. PTPN will offer adequate social aid to Mujiran and integrate him into appropriate work commensurate with his physical condition, or assign employment to family members to ensure a decent livelihood.
“We must address welfare issues through guidance, not prosecution. I have ordered that Mujiran or his family be given employment within PTPN. BUMNs must be a solution to protect, not a tool to imprison struggling citizens,” Dony added.
Moving forward, BP BUMN and Danantara will treat this case as a stern warning (red flag) for all BUMN boards in Indonesia. A comprehensive review of corporate asset protection Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be conducted to prioritise more humane and restorative justice approaches. “BUMNs must operate according to their core purpose: present for the people, working for the people,” Dony firmly stated.