PDI-P executive on shortlist for top position at Telkom

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)