House endorses Aulia as new BI deputy governor
House endorses Aulia as new BI deputy governor
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives unanimously
approved the reappointment of Aulia Pohan as deputy governor of
the central bank in a plenary session on Wednesday, despite
protests from employees, including several deputy governors, of
Bank Indonesia itself.
The decision was made through a vote after legislators
disagreed with an earlier assertion made by House Commission IX
for budget and finance to approve the reelection of Aulia.
Commission IX had picked Aulia last week out of two other
candidates -- Bank Indonesia senior officials Burhanuddin
Abdullah and Cyrillus Harinowo -- who were nominated by Bank
Indonesia's governor Sjahril Sabirin for the new deputy governor
positions.
Wednesday's vote resulted in 217 legislators choosing to
endorse the House Commission IX's selection of Aulia as against
42 legislators rejecting it, with four abstaining.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said after the plenary meeting
that the selection of Aulia was final and had been made in a
transparent and correct manner, including a fit and proper test.
The test found Aulia had a good track record, he said, adding
that the House had taken into consideration the aspirations of
certain people who opposed the reappointment of Aulia during the
selection process.
"As far as we are concerned, any other opposition to Aulia
coming from employees of Bank Indonesia will be the bank's
problem, not ours," Akbar said.
Hundreds of Bank Indonesia employees have protested the
House's support of Aulia's reappointment.
The employees have said Aulia was not suitable for the
position because his strong connections to the Golkar Party --
the political machine of former president Soeharto -- would
likely influence his views and policies and thus affect the
central bank's independency and performance.
The employees have also alleged that Aulia created a clique
and intimidated other staffers at the central bank during his
term there.
Aulia is currently serving as one of the bank's deputy
governors. His term is due to start next month.
Aulia will take over the position from Iwan R. Prawiranata,
who will end his term in April. (cst)