Conglomerate Chairul Tanjung Asked Luhut: Why Always China, Sir?

Chairul Tanjung conglomerate. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan answered the allegation that the current government seems to prioritize China in its development and investment. Luhut admitted that he had a close relationship with the Bamboo Curtain country.

Coordinating Minister Luhut said that his background as a businessman makes this relationship well established. Even so, he said his relations with other countries were also much better.

"If we are close to China, yes. With Abu Dhabi, we are super close too. We have received the US $ 19 billion for the first time in Indonesian history. We are also close to the US", he said in a virtual discussion, Thursday, February 25.

Luhut's explanation also responded to a question from the Founder and Chairman of CT Corp Chairul Tanjung in the CNBC Indonesia Economic Outlook 2021.

"This is a rather sensitive question, Sir. Now all of that is impressed by China. Vaccines from China, investment from China, and Pak Luhut quote on the quote because of the close relationship, considered the commander. Can you explain this to economic actors and society in general? These are rumors that need to be clarified", asked Chairul previously.

Furthermore, Luhut explained that there may be a lot of cooperation with China because they also want to make friends. However, all incoming investments must meet the criteria set by the Indonesian government.

"None of them (China) is in control", he stressed.

Luhut gave an example of the criteria that must be met, namely that the imported technology must be first-class and also environmentally friendly. Then, the cooperation that exists must be business to business (B2B), not government to government (G2G/government with the government). That way Indonesia is not exposed to a debt trap.

"Including the transfer of technology. They follow all of that. So I thought, why not? I reported to the president. The president said go ahead, we just beat it", he explained.

Furthermore, Luhut said that until now the cooperation in the form of investment with China was running. He said, there was nothing that caused Indonesia's debt collateral to accumulate.

"They are all deal professionally. Most of my office are young people. In my term, they are naughty too. 'That dry towel is squeezed out the water'. So we will not be fooled. I promise you. I want to say, we are. will not be cheated", he said.