Laksamana reshuffles management of SOEs
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although his days in office are numbered, State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi looks as busy as ever.
Despite calls for the current government not to introduce strategic policies before its term ends on Oct. 20, a major management shakeup in slew of state-owned transportation firms was made on Friday by Laksamana's office.
The reshuffle at four state owned enterprises (SOEs) -- dredging firm PT Pengerukan Indonesia (Rukindo), shipping firm PT Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna (BAG), bus operator Perum Damri and Jakarta bus operator Perum PPD -- was confirmed by Bonar Manurung, an assistance to the deputy minister in charge of the transportation sector.
"We inaugurated them (new board of directors) this morning at the office," Bonar told Antara.
The shakeup follows a similar move less than three weeks ago, when some members of the board of directors of state fertilizer producer PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja and a number of its subsidiaries were also replaced.
Laksamana's office oversees hundreds of state-owned companies across the country.
While the move is in line with prevailing regulations, it still raised eyebrows given the time the current administration has left in power. Some critics say that such a move could prove to be a time bomb specifically designed to hurt the credibility of the next government.
Top government officials, however, have denied the allegation.
"This has nothing to do with the new government. It was simply because their (former directors') tenures had expired," explained Bonar.
Bonar also did not rule out other reshuffles in other state- owned enterprises in time to come.
He said the swearing-in of the new executive of state PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines would take place on Monday. "But it is only the company's finance director, Budiman Farioedin, who will be replaced by Prasetyo A. from the banking sector."
He refused, however, to say whether Merpati president Wahyu Hidayat would also be replaced.
Friday's reshuffle saw Rukindo's president Wahyu Bimarso replaced by Risnoe Wardhono, a former director at Surabaya's cargo terminal. The firm's business director Soeprapto was replaced by Tahan Sibuea from the firm's Jakarta branch office.
As for BAG, president commissioner will be Hasudungan Aritonang replacing Sri Diharto, while Sri Untung and Woro Muljani Pudjiastuti replaced two other members of the firm's board of commissioners, M. Irsan Nasarudin and Abdul Razak Manan, respectively.
Damri president commissioner Suhardo was replaced by Sulaiman Ahmad Basjir, while president commissioner of PPD Aji Komaruddin made way for Bambang Susantono.
PPD's president Bilkio Marbun, director for financial affairs Hendarko and director for business operation Hendarko all retained their positions.