Discourse On The Change Of SOEs To Cooperatives Is Considered Potentially Violating The 1945 Constitution

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the Segara Research Institute Piter Abdullah said that the discourse or ideas related to changing SOEs into cooperatives have the potential to violate the 1945 Constitution article 33.

"That's inconsequential if those who say that thesan is by operating SOEs it is more in accordance with the Constitution, that's inconsequential. It is contrary to the Constitution in Article 33," Piter said, quoted from Antara, Monday, February 5.

Piter also responded to the discourse regarding the idea of converting SOEs into cooperatives.

According to him, this is not wise and contrary to the 1945 Constitution Article 33 paragraph (3) which reads that the earth, water, and natural wealth contained therein are controlled by the state and used as much as possible for the prosperity of the people.

"That's why SOEs, especially for sectors that are very strategic, are owned by SOEs because SOEs represent the state," said Piter.

He also admitted that he had confirmed directly regarding the discourse to representatives of the Anies-Muhaimin (AMIN) national team. From the results of his confirmation to the Secretary of the Expert Council of the AMIN National Team, Wijayanto Samirin, it turned out that the discourse was conveyed by an Indonesian cooperative figure, Suroto PH, who was invited to a discussion by Team 01.

This view was conveyed by Suroto PH when he was an independent speaker at the Public Discussion of the People's Movement for Change at Brawijaya X, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 31.

"So, it is still Pak Suroto's personal view, not the view let alone the proposal from Team 01. That's why I'm not sure it's from Paslon 01 because it's crazy. I've confirmed it to Mas Wijayanto Sarimin, from Mas Wijaya he didn't tell me, it's not," said Piter.

Piter explained the difference between cooperatives and the company (Persero). Cooperatives are a form of business entities that have limited ownership and private places as business entities. In Indonesia, there are three forms of business entities, namely individuals, private-owned businesses, and cooperatives.

The fundamental difference between cooperatives and Persero lies in the business management process. In cooperatives, all members have the same voting rights, referred to as the principle of "one man one vote." Each member does not care how much capital is owned, has one voting right. For example, if there are 10 members, each has one voting right.

Meanwhile, in Persero, it is known as the principle of "one share one vote." The voting rights are determined by how much capital is invested. If a person owns more than 50 percent of the shares, then he has control or control over the company.

He gave an example that if Pertamina, which is currently part of the BUMN, was later converted into a cooperative consisting of 10 people, then Pertamina would only be owned by the 10 people.

"Now Indonesians have Pertamina? Don't have it. Right now Pertamina is in the form of Persero, PT; 100 percent of Indonesian owners. Independent is more than 50 percent of Indonesia's. That's why I say it is against the Constitution, if we operate all SOEs, "said Piter.

Meanwhile, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said the dissolution of state-owned corporations would only lead to new unemployment in Indonesia, considering that 1.6 million people were BUMN employees.

"It is ironic that the view is like that. If you want to be dissolved and replaced with a cooperative, it is tantamount to creating new unemployment when everyone needs jobs," he said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Sunday, February 4.

He conveyed that BUMN employees have proven themselves to be agents of change in Indonesia's economic development, which currently has a growth of 5 percent.

According to him, all state-owned corporations in 2023 have produced the largest dividend in Indonesia's history, which is IDR 82.1 trillion so that the profits obtained from SOEs have become a strong foundation for economic growth in the country.