Faisal Basri Calls Deputy Minister For Multiple Positions At Kadin Deputy Is Crazy, Deputy Minister Of BUMN: No Conflict Of Interest

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of BUMN Kartika Wirjoatmodjo responded to criticism from senior economist Faisal Basri regarding his concurrent position as Deputy General Chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). He guarantees that there is no conflict of interest even though he has multiple positions.

"There is no (conflict of interest). It's just to open communication. Because all business processes are in corporations," he said, in Jakarta, quoted Thursday, December 23.

Furthermore, Tiko, his nickname, said that he was assigned to the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is to open up a collaborative ecosystem between the Ministry of SOEs and the private sector.

"Because SOEs want to be an open ecosystem. It's clear that we are only community organizations, not making decisions," he said.

Previously, senior economist Faisal Basri said conflict of interest was the main problem surrounding state officials today. This is because, according to Faisal, many state officials also function as part of business actors.

Furthermore, Faisal said that the dual position between state officials with functions as part of business actors had never happened before in the history of Indonesia.

"Now this is the lowest point. Just imagine that this has never happened in the history of Indonesia, the Deputy Minister and Deputy Chairman of Kadin. This country has gone crazy. So the conflict of interest is very blurry," he said in a virtual discussion, Tuesday, December 21.

Faisal also highlighted the Chairman of the MPR, Bambang Soesatyo, who also serves as the top administrator of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, namely the Head of the Law Enforcement, Defense and Security Relations Agency. Including the expert staff of the Minister of BKPM, Eka Sastra.

"The expert staff of the Minister of BKPM, Eka Sastra, has a lot of companies, he also (serves) the Deputy of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Anyway, it's scary. That's where the root of the conflict of interest lies," he said.