Prabowo Calls for Himbara Bosses to the Palace, There is a Signal for a New Assignment

Bank Mandiri President Director Riduan said the agenda discussed was related to banking. (IST)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto summoned the board of directors and commissioners of the State-owned Bank Association (Himbara) banks to the Presidential Palace, Thursday, June 18. The meeting is said to discuss the banking sector and possible assignments involving red plate banks.

Bank Mandiri President Director Riduan said the agenda discussed was related to banking.

"About banking," said Riduan when he arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex.

When asked whether all commissioners and directors of the Himbara bank were invited, Riduan confirmed it.

"Yes, God willing, according to the invitation," he said.

However, Riduan has not explained further the material that will be discussed in the meeting. He also did not specify the number of participants who attended.

The signal of the special agenda for Himbara was also conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

According to Airlangga, the discussion related to banking will be conveyed after the meeting.

"Later after," he said.

When asked whether there was an assignment for Himbara, Airlangga admitted that the discussion was indeed related to the banks of Himbara members.

"Yes, with Himbara," said Airlangga.

However, he has not confirmed whether the government will give new tasks to the SOEs banks.

"Later we will see," he said.

The summoning of the Himbara ranks to the Palace attracted attention because it occurred in the midst of various government priority programs that require large financing support from the national banking sector.

Until the meeting began, there was no official explanation regarding the detailed agenda to be discussed by the President with the heads of state-owned banks.

Himbara consists of Bank Mandiri, BRI, BNI, BTN and BSI. This group of state-owned banks has been at the forefront of various government strategic programs, ranging from financing MSMEs, public housing, to the distribution of credit for priority sectors.