Faisal Basri: Instead Of Holding Form, BRI Better Acquisition, Buy Bank Muamalat For Example

Indef senior economist Faisal Basri. (Photo: Doc. Between)

JAKARTA - Senior Economist Faisal Basri suggested that state-owned banks, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI) acquire other commercial banks rather than form ultra-micro holdings. The action according to him is more effective in strengthening financial inclusion in Indonesia than forming an ultra-micro holding consisting of BRI, PT Pegadaian (Persero), and PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (Persero) or PMN.

"If I may propose to the government, BRI is to spearhead financial inclusion, just take over commercial banks. Buy, acquire, well so big he is. Buy Bank Muamalat or Bank Bukopin so that bank consolidation occurs. That's the way to consolidate banks, that banks in Indonesia are not consolidating", Faisal said in a discussion titled Behind the BRI-Pawnshop Merger Plan: "When Different Cultures Are Threatened", Thursday 8 April.

Faisal assessed, holding is not able to alleviate the problem of ultra micro business. Because, according to him, problems in the ultra microsphere are not only on finance, but there are also concerns about marketing, raw materials, fuel/energy, skills, labor wages, and so on.

Core Indonesia economist Piter Abdullah argues similarly. He said he was worried that the merger plan of BRI, Pawnshop, and PMN could reduce the quality of services from Pawnshop and PMN.

BRI's role will, Piter said, become more dominant after the merger.

"The tendency if the merger must appear BRI because of the largest BRI. So, most likely BRI appeared. If that's the case BRI will become bigger and will take the market PMN and Pawnshop", he explained.