PDI-P executive on shortlist for top position at Telkom

JAKARTA (JP): Dimyati Hartono, senior executive of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuanagan), and president of satellite operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara Adi R. Adiwoso are among the 10 candidates to head publicly listed PT Telkom Indonesia, a source said here on Thursday.

Assistant to the state minister for investment and state enterprises development, Benny Pasaribu, said his office was still selecting the best candidate to replace A.A. Nasution, who ends his tenure in April.

Benny said that in addition to the 10 candidates, the government was also preparing 40 others to fill the positions of directors and commissioners in several other state-owned companies, including international telecommunications provider PT Indosat.

"We have 50 candidates to be examined for the positions. We will apply fit and proper tests on them ... The 50 names will likely be announced on Monday so that we can see the market's reactions to them," he said.

He said the market's reaction was one of the most important factors to be considered in the selection of the eligible candidates, especially for the position of president.

According to a new policy on the recruitment processes for state-owned companies' board directors, prospective appointees will have their track records -- including possible involvement in corruption, collusion and nepotism -- educational background, work experience as well as suggestions from the public examined by a special team.

"The eligible candidate for company president should be market-friendly and have a good reputation in the industry that the company is focusing its operations in," Benny said.

He said that the poor development of Telkom's stock price in the market over recent years was partly due to the fact that Telkom's current president Nasution was not popular in the market.

Benny said the results of the tests on the ten candidates for president of Telkom were expected to be discussed by shareholders at the company's extraordinary meeting scheduled for April 7.

The government has twice asked Telkom to hold an extraordinary meeting to appoint a new president. Telkom's management, however, has always rejected the demand, arguing that the government has never given it significant reasons to do so. (cst/01)