Prabowo Clean-up Bank Himbara, Old Board Threatened to be Replaced

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto will replace the board of directors of Bank Himbara which is considered to be detrimental to the country. This was said by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

This must be done so that state-owned banks can work more effectively to strengthen Indonesia's economic sovereignty.

"Bank Himbara is more profitable for large entrepreneurs than small entrepreneurs to be given credit. Therefore, the President will decide to replace all the directors of Bank Himbara," said Sjafrie while giving material to members of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) who attended a retreat at the State Defense Competence Center Facility of the Defense Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) in Cibodas, Rumpiang, Bogor Regency, West Java, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 31.

According to Sjafrie, so far many state banks and other state-owned enterprises (BUMN) are considered to have less profit for the country.

This, continued Sjafrie, could happen because many company directors do not work to the maximum, even tend to benefit themselves.

Therefore, continued Sjafrie, the government will select the directors of state banks and other SOEs by means of strict selection, considering intellectual ability and experience.

"We replace them with those who have intellectual ability, practitioner ability but he loves the country," said Sjafrie.

"We no longer take those who have long been entrenched in SOEs," he said. After giving a speech, Sjafrie reiterated the government's intention to find a new generation of SOE directors when asked by the media at a press conference.

"The government is looking for young generations who are militant, capable, and credible for us to give them the task and responsibility to control our economic struggle boat," he explained.

However, Sjafrie did not explain in detail the selection scheme.