The Minister Of SOEs Expressed The Reason For Appointing An Active TNI General As President Director Of Bulog

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir. (Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir opened his voice regarding the appointment of an active high-ranking TNI officer as the President Director (Managing Director) of Bulog. He said the change in directors was a form of refreshment, in order to achieve the target of absorbing grain and rice.

For your information, the high-ranking active TNI officer in question is the Major General (Mayjen) of the TNI, Novi Helmy Prasetya. Novi was appointed to replace Wahyu Suparyono in the position of President Director of Bulog as of Friday, February 7 yesterday.

"Yes, of course, a refresher must be done. Indeed, this assignment must be able to do us optimally. So we will run these reviews," Erick told the media crew at the BUMN Ministry office, Jakarta, Monday, February 10.

Furthermore, Erick considered that Bulog's absorption of domestically produced grain and rice had not been maximized. Therefore, according to him, it is necessary to refresh in order to ensure that the absorption is maximized.

"From the absorption data, it is still small. Yes, there needs to be a refresher. And it is necessary for all support systems to ensure that this assignment is maximized. Because the most important thing is not that until now we go to self-sufficiency in rice, which we have imported so far, in the end the absorption is not optimal," said Erick.

Even so, Erick was reluctant to comment on the appointment of an active high-ranking TNI officer as the President Director of Bulog violating the Law (UU). In fact, Erick turned to other questions.

"Others?" said Erick.

For your information, the appointment of an active high-ranking TNI officer, Major General Novi Helmy, as the main director of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) is in the public spotlight. This is because the decision violates the provisions of the TNI Law (TNI Law).

Based on Article 47 paragraph (2), it is regulated that civil office can be filled by TNI soldiers. If referring to the berei, there is no position of director of BUMN.

In the law, agencies that are allowed to be filled by active TNI soldiers are the Ministry of Political and Security Affairs, State Defense, Presidential Military Secretary, State Intelligence, State Password, National Defense Institute, National Defense Council, Search and Rescue (SAR) National, National Narcotics and Supreme Court (MA).

Previously, it was reported that the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir had changed the Board of Directors of Perum Bulog and appointed TNI Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya as President Director of Perum Bulog.

The decision is contained in the Decree of the Minister of SOEs Number: SK-30/MBU/02/2025 dated February 7, 2025, which ends Wahyu Suparyono's service as President Director and Iryanto Hutagaol as Finance Director of Perum Bulog.

"During their tenure, both of them have made a significant contribution to the progress of Perum Bulog," wrote Perum Bulog's management in a statement, Saturday, February 8.

TNI Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya, who previously served as the Territorial Assistant to the TNI Commander, is now trusted to lead Perum Bulog. Novi Helmy Prasetya will start his tenure as President Director along with Finance Director Hendra Susanto.

Hendra Susanto is believed to have served as Finance Director of Perum Bulog as Deputy Chair of the Supreme Audit Agency of the Republic of Indonesia.