Bahlil Ensures No Conflict Of Interest After Becoming Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Bahlil Lahadalia ensured that there would be no conflict of interest after he was appointed Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace.

He said this was related to his background as a mining entrepreneur.

Bahlil admitted that since he first entered the government by being appointed as Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), he is no longer an entrepreneur.

"Since being inaugurated in the government as the Head of BKPM, I have no longer become an entrepreneur, so it has been completed and God willing, even though I have a background as an entrepreneur, I can distinguish which ones are for the benefit of the state and which are for personal interests," Bahlil said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 19.

"If my company runs normally, I will no longer be a manager," he continued.

In fact, said Bahlil, with his experience as an entrepreneur, he can accommodate what is needed by the business world, so that it can be synchronized with government programs.

"In fact, with my experience as a former entrepreneur, I will try to fulfill what must be improved in line with what is needed by the business world," said Bahlil.

Furthermore, Bahlil said, he would communicate with the previous Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, to ask about any homework in the ESDM sector that must be completed.

"I will definitely be out of touch with Pak Arifin because of our relationship, brother and sister. Our communication is very good, so I will definitely continue the good ones and then I will ask about the homework that will be completed. It doesn't mean that there are new officials and then reshuffle policies, they can't," said Bahlil.

Previously, Deputy for Apparatus Administration of the Ministry of State Secretariat Nanik Purwanti called Bahlil's inauguration as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources based on Presidential Decree Number 92P of 2024 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of State Ministers of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period.

Bahlil has a background as a cadre of the Golkar Party and a businessman from Papua who previously served as Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) since 2019.

The seat of the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM is now occupied by Rosan Roeslani who was also inaugurated by President Jokowi this Monday.