Presiden Prabowo Tegur Direksi BUMN Secara Terutup, Ketum PWI Hendry Ch Bangun: Evaluasi Seharusnya Jadi Konsumsi Publik

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto's decision during a speech at the Town Hall Meeting of the Danantara was behind closed doors. The event, which took place Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), was initially open to journalists. However, as soon as the President started speaking, journalists were asked to leave the room.

This step raises question marks. Moreover, the previous remarks from the CEO of Danantara who is also the Minister of Investment, Rosan Roeslani, took place openly. Only when it was President Prabowo's turn, the atmosphere turned closed. The reason presented: the president wants to reprimand and evaluate the performance of the SOE directors, and it's "it's not good if it's done in front of journalists."

The General Chairperson of the Central PWI, Hendry Ch Bangun, strongly criticized the sudden closure. According to him, if the event was designed to be closed, it should have been announced from the start, not impromptu. The reason will reprimand the SOE directors is irrelevant. The President can use language and tone that maintains dignity, without the need to get rid of journalists," said Hendry in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 30.

He also highlighted the weak coordination between the Danantara Public Relations and the Presidential Communication Team Prabowo Subianto. This uncertainty, said Hendry, reflects the absence of a mature communication concept. In fact, the evaluation of SOE performance is important information for the public, because it involves APBN funds and national interests," he added.

Hendry emphasized that the term "not good" cannot be used as a standard. "If there is a news value, it is still worth reporting. The press is not the audience, but the mouthpiece of the people," he said.

In his statement to the media after the event, President Prabowo explained, Danantara is the nation's great wealth that must be managed transparently and strictly. He said the value of Danantara's assets could reach 1 trillion US dollars if managed professionally.

"I ask all directors to leave old practices that are not true. Evaluation must be comprehensive performance, character, morals, and achievements," said Prabowo.

He also emphasized that the selection of positions should not be based on ethnicity, religion, race, or political affiliation. "The elected must be professional, working for the Indonesian people," said Prabowo.

According to Hendry Ch Bangun, closing media access when President Prabowo Subianto spoke opened up a larger space for questions. Is openness still the main principle in managing state wealth?