Theo to resign as BKPM chief

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following reports of his much-criticized assault on foreign residents at a children's sports event, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chief Theo Toemion announced on Sunday he would resign from his current post.

"I will send my resignation letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tomorrow (Monday)," he said when visiting The Jakarta Post to speak about the incident.

"The sooner the better (to give up the job). This is only my sacrifice for the country," Theo added.

Earlier on Friday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the government would soon replace Theo due to "poor performance", but stressed that the decision had nothing to do with the recent incident at an international school here.

In response, Theo denied that his replacement plan was because of poor performance. "During the last three months, the question has been whether the BKPM will be dissolved or not, so we have not been able to work."

Theo said he was concerned over the reported plan to eliminate the investment board while he was finalizing a bill to make it a one-roof service agency for investors.

He said he was also fed up with all the talk of security and law and order needed to secure foreign investment. "We need infrastructure and competitiveness. But they (other officials) won't listen to me. They only listen to the companies already here."

Kalla said the government had been reviewing the performance of the investment board, including its chief, for the past three months.

"Currently, we have picked three candidates to fill the board's top post, and we will announce the chief quite soon. Note that the change has nothing whatsoever to do with the assault case," Kalla said.

Theo reportedly struck a 14-year-old student referee and scuffled briefly with foreign residents at the Jakarta International School (JIS) during a basketball competition in which Theo's seven-year-old son was playing on April 17.

Theo admitted to slapping the referee in the face, trying to grab the shoulder of the woman coordinating the competition and overturning furniture after his son fouled out of the game.

According to witnesses, Theo reportedly became physical with four U.S. executives and an Australian businessman, who had stepped in to stop the violence.

Defending his actions, Theo said his son was being unfairly treated and discriminated against. Theo also reiterated that he had sent a letter of apology to the people concerned and the school.

Theo, a former legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was appointed to head the investment board in June 2001. His five-year term was scheduled to end in 2006.

He was appointed by PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, when she was the vice president.

Theo, a currency analyst-turned-politician, was a member of the House of Representatives Commission IX for state budget and finance. He was also the head of the House special team debating the government-proposed bill on the amendment of the central bank law.