The Risk Of Living In This Republic, Meritocracy Is Far From Expected

JAKARTA The appointment of Riefan Fajarsyah as the President Director of PT Film Negara (PFN) attracted public attention. This man's ability, better known as Ifan Seventeen, is questioned.

Ifan was appointed as President Director of PFN, a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) that causes Indonesian cinema. Ifan's appointment as President Director of PFN invited him to ask questions. The reason is, the public knows Ifan better as the vocalist of the Seventeen band.

But the public's instability was dismissed by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of SOEs, Putri Viola, who said that Ifan had experience in the field of film. Although better known as a vocalist, Putri Viola highlighted Ifan's experience as a producer.

"From his work, Ifan is not only in the music world. Ifan has experience as a producer. So we hope then we can bring new developments for PFN," said Putri.

The appointment of Ifan Seventeen as President Director of PFN certainly seized public attention. First, because this man born in Yogyakarta is considered to have no capacity to occupy the position.

A series of public figures also voiced their admiration for Ifan's appointment as President Director of PFN, one of which was actor Fedi Nuril.

Said @prabowo we have to go towards the merit (capability) system. Achievements! But what is appointed as the President Director of PT Film Negara (PFN) is Ifan Seventeen whose abilities, experience, and achievements in Indonesian films are not clear, "wrote Fedi on his X account.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Film Artists (PARFI 56) Marcella Zalianty also questioned the reasons behind Ifan's election. According to him, there are still many people in the national film industry who have good capacity to be able to lead PFN.

Besides being better known as a singer, the background of Ifan Seventeen is also highlighted by the public. He is known to be a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), which has no direct connection with the film industry.

Seeing Ifan's educational background, as well as his minimal role in the world of cinema, national film observer Benny Benke is not sure he can lead PFN. According to Benny, being the President Director of PT PFN is a big responsibility with tough challenges.

Moreover, considering the current condition, which can be said to be far from ideal, especially in terms of financial support and ongoing policies.

"In recent decades, PFN has focused on financing Indonesian films by conducting strict curation of the production of the film to be funded," said Benke.

"However, the reality has never gone according to the expectations of the Indonesian film public. This happens because PFN's financial support is not ideal, especially in the current era of government, where budget efficiency is carried out in various sectors," Benke continued.

This is not the first time people have questioned about the government's decision to appoint a figure in an important position. Previously, there had been former vocalist Nidji Giring Ganesha who was appointed Deputy Minister of Culture, Raffi Ahmad as the Presidential Special Envoy for the Development of the Young Generation and Art Workers, musician Yovie Widianto was appointed as the Presidential Special Staff for Creative Economy.

Then recently there was Raline Shah who was also appointed as the Special Staff for the Global Ministry of Education and Digital Education, Komdigi.

That was only in the line of ministries. In BUMN, the appointment of important positions was also in the spotlight. Like Felicity Tallulembang who was appointed as Commissioner of BSI in the middle of last year. After his appointment, it was discovered that he was a Gerindra cadre.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir also approved MIND ID's leadership, by appointing Maroef Sjamsoeddin as President Director replacing Hendi Prio Santoso. For information, Maroef is the younger brother of the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Returning to the appointment of Ifan Seventeen as President Director of PT PFN. Apart from being a musician, Ifan has indeed entered politics several times. In the 2014 election, he ran for a member of the DPR from the Gerindra Party in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, but failed.

Ifan again tried in the 2019 Election as a legislative candidate from the National Awakening Party (PKB) for the West Kalimantan region, but also failed to make it to Senayan.

Ifan is also recently close to President Prabowo, who appeared in a video clip of the song titled Pernah Di Sana. This song is even reportedly dedicated to Prabowo. Ifan has also uploaded his togetherness with Prabowo several times on social media.

If the government continues to appoint people who are deemed incompetent to occupy important positions, as well as raise the question of whether there is still room for meritocracy?

Meritocracy, according to KBBI, is a system that provides an opportunity for a person to lead based on abilities or achievements, not wealth, seniority, and others. The goal is to reduce corrupt practices, collusion, and nepotism.

This is like destroying the dreams of young Indonesians, that all have the same opportunity to reach an important position. The hope that Indonesia is based on meritocracy is getting further and further away.

This was also acknowledged by Benny Benke, who assessed that Ifan's appointment was full of political content. Benke emphasized that political interference in PFN inevitably made the company stagnant and difficult to develop.

Special Staff to the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs for Global Partnership and Digital Education Raline Shah in a group discussion forum with children at the Ministry of Communication and Digi Library, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (18/2/2025). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Communication and Digital)

"This is what has made PFN not develop, because its stakeholders do not understand the problem and do not know how to properly revive PFN," he said.

According to him, there are many people who have the capacity to occupy this position, but because they do not have a political closeness to their power, they are not elected. Therefore, it is difficult for them to lead PFN.

"In fact, we know that there are many people who actually have the capacity to occupy this position. However, politically they are far from power. This is the risk of life in this republic," concluded Benke.