Hard! Jokowi To Erick Thohir: Change The Managing Director Of SOEs Who Are Fond Of Imports!

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked all agencies ranging from ministries and institutions at the central, regional to State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) to reduce imports of goods. Jokowi is furious to know that the budget for the procurement of goods and services is actually spent on imported goods, even though they can be produced domestically.

Jokowi also issued an ultimatum that all government agencies follow the desire to allocate 40 percent of the budget for the procurement of goods and services to buy domestic products. Not only that, a series of threats will be given to those who do not comply.

For state-owned companies, Jokowi asked SOE Minister Erick Thohir to pay attention to the procurement of goods and services. Jokowi asked Erick Thohir to remove his leadership if there were still imports.

"If someone doesn't comply with what we agreed on today, I will convey BUMN, the minister of BUMN, change the president, change", said Jokowi during a virtual affirmative action briefing Proud of Indonesia (BBI) on Friday, March 25.

Meanwhile, for regional level institutions and agencies, Jokowi threatened to reduce the special allocation fund (DAK) and general allocation funds (DAU) if they are still fond of imports.

"If there are those who are not enthusiastic about cutting the DAK, they agree? Agree, they are not enthusiastic? It looks like everyone is horrified, they won't cut it right later, I will be careful with the DAU if someone disobeys what we agreed on", he stressed.

Likewise in the central government, Jokowi said that if there are ministries that are still fond of imports, their leaders can also be removed. Jokowi implies that there will be a reshuffle.

"Ministry, it's the same but that's my part. The reshuffle, I've done it, I've really watched it. Like this it can't work, it's already in front of the currency, it's hard for us to spend our own money, it's just difficult to spend on domestic products", he said.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta also asked Attorney General ST Burhanuddin to closely monitor the circulation of imported goods labeled as domestic products.

"I was very careful, I asked the Attorney General not to let imported goods be labeled as domestic products. Because often in the marketplace there is such a thing as an aggregator, stamping it in, hey, don't think we don't understand", he said.