Investment Ministry Responds to Reports of Thuggery Disrupting BYD Factory Construction in Subang
JAKARTA — Deputy for Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Nurul Ichwan has responded to reports that the construction of BYD's electric vehicle factory in Subang, West Java, has been disrupted by thuggery and interference from mass organisations (ormas).
According to Ichwan, he would communicate with BYD to ascertain the actual situation on the ground. "I only just read about it earlier, and I'm not fully aware of the facts on the ground. But if that is the case, God willing, I will try to contact our colleagues at BYD today to find out the situation, because we need to ask BYD directly," Ichwan said at the Ministry of Investment office in Jakarta on Wednesday (23/4/2025).
"This doesn't mean that the reports are not 100 per cent accurate, but we need to know the details so that we can coordinate with the Task Force. That way, the matter can be handled by the authorities with the proper jurisdiction," he explained.
Regarding the thuggery complaints raised by investors, Ichwan acknowledged that such activities are highly disruptive. Not only do they affect company operations, but they also attract international public attention. He therefore called on all parties to help drive the resolution of thuggery in the investment and industrial sectors.
"This could be picked up by anyone, painting Indonesia as unsafe, as a place of thuggery, and so on. This requires understanding from many parties that in the current situation, attracting investment is not easy — all countries are becoming increasingly protectionist," Ichwan said.
"Even the United States, a country as wealthy and prosperous as it is, with excellent technology, still engages in extraordinary protectionism solely to attract investment into the country," he added.
Previously, Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno revealed that the BYD electric vehicle factory project in Subang, West Java, had faced obstacles from thuggery and interference by mass organisations. He made the remarks during a visit to BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, some time ago.
"I heard that there were problems related to thuggery and mass organisations disrupting the construction of BYD's production facilities. I believe the government needs to be firm in addressing this issue," Eddy said in a post on his official Instagram account, quoted on Tuesday (22/4/2025).
According to Ichwan, he would communicate with BYD to ascertain the actual situation on the ground. "I only just read about it earlier, and I'm not fully aware of the facts on the ground. But if that is the case, God willing, I will try to contact our colleagues at BYD today to find out the situation, because we need to ask BYD directly," Ichwan said at the Ministry of Investment office in Jakarta on Wednesday (23/4/2025).
"This doesn't mean that the reports are not 100 per cent accurate, but we need to know the details so that we can coordinate with the Task Force. That way, the matter can be handled by the authorities with the proper jurisdiction," he explained.
Regarding the thuggery complaints raised by investors, Ichwan acknowledged that such activities are highly disruptive. Not only do they affect company operations, but they also attract international public attention. He therefore called on all parties to help drive the resolution of thuggery in the investment and industrial sectors.
"This could be picked up by anyone, painting Indonesia as unsafe, as a place of thuggery, and so on. This requires understanding from many parties that in the current situation, attracting investment is not easy — all countries are becoming increasingly protectionist," Ichwan said.
"Even the United States, a country as wealthy and prosperous as it is, with excellent technology, still engages in extraordinary protectionism solely to attract investment into the country," he added.
Previously, Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno revealed that the BYD electric vehicle factory project in Subang, West Java, had faced obstacles from thuggery and interference by mass organisations. He made the remarks during a visit to BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, some time ago.
"I heard that there were problems related to thuggery and mass organisations disrupting the construction of BYD's production facilities. I believe the government needs to be firm in addressing this issue," Eddy said in a post on his official Instagram account, quoted on Tuesday (22/4/2025).