Dahlan Iskan: When 'Cleaning' In SOEs Many Don't Like Me

JAKARTA - The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) for the period of 2011 – 2014 Dahlan Iskan revealed the legal case that had involved him several years ago. In a casual talk on Akbar Faizal's podcast, the boss of Jawa Pos told his story.

“When I was the President Director of PLN, I chose directors who were former student and anti-corruption activists. The hope is that when they take office the act (corruption) will not be carried out," he said, quoted on Sunday, January 9.

According to Dahlan, at that time he felt confident that he could reform the state stun company. “I later found out if this cleaning was just for themselves it was safe for themselves. However, the cleaning spirit that I carry carries its own risks," he said.

He also had time to get input from foreign colleagues about his efforts. "My friends abroad said: you clean, there must be people who don't like it because the sustenance is gone, so be careful," he said.

Therefore, continued Dahlan, a special strategy is needed for SOE officials so as not to get caught up in personal interests and must prioritize professionalism.

"Actually, the opportunity to clean up is most likely to be done when you are a SOE director because it is directly related to operations rather than the SOE Minister," he said.

As is known, Dahlan Iskan was involved in a legal case because he was deemed to be detrimental to the state over the 2002-2004 case of selling assets to the Regional Owned Enterprise PT Panca Wira Usaha (PWU).

In April 2017, the Surabaya Corruption Court sentenced him to 2 years in prison in the form of city detention plus a fine of IDR 100 million, subsidiary to 2 months in prison.

Feeling innocent, Dahlan appealed. Then, the East Java High Court decided to annul Dahlan's charges and acquitted him.

It did not stop there, this legal case even reached the level of the Constitutional Court (MA). In its decision, the Supreme Court still acquitted Dahlan Iskan in the cassation trial of the corruption case in the assets of PT Panca Wira Usaha (PWU) in 2019.