Theo to resign as BKPM chief

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.