Staff Of Erick Thohir Denies Accusations That PMN Was Used To Cover BUMN Debt

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JAKARTA - The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) has denied allegations that state capital investment (PMN) received by state-owned companies was to cover their debts.

Special Staff to the Minister of SOEs, Arya Sinulingga, said that almost all funds disbursed by the state were allocated to government assignment programs.

It was recorded that the total PMN received by SOEs reached Rp. 106 trillion. This amount consists of additional PMN 2021 worth IDR 33.9 trillion and PMN for Fiscal Year 2022 amounting to IDR 72.449 trillion. The value of the fresh funds has also been approved by Commission VI of the DPR.

"So almost all of this money is an assignment. So there is no assignment to cover debt, the assignment is to build toll roads, to build this and that there is no debt closing," he said in a virtual discussion, Friday, July 16.

For example, Arya said, Hutama Karya received a PMN of Rp11 trillion in 2021 for assignments. Arya said this BUMN was assigned to build a toll road to Aceh.

"Acehnese people have never seen a toll road there, now they can see it. In Medan, my village, I used to go to Siantar for 4-5 hours, now it takes 1.5 hours to get to Siantar because there is a toll road. That's an assignment. So money what was given to Hutama Karya was an assignment," he said.

Then, in 2022 Hutama Karya will get another PMN of IDR 31.3 trillion to complete his assignment.

"Don't ask to build toll roads without being given money, you can't. No one wants the private sector. The ones that are advanced are state-owned enterprises. But they must be supported by funds from the government. SOEs advance before they are economical, in order to achieve equity (development)," he said.

According to Arya, SOE Minister Erick Thohir has issued a Regulation of the Minister of SOEs (Permen) PMN which has been issued since March 1, 2021. The regulation regulates a number of considerations or points of view regarding the proposal for additional PMN, reporting of additional use, monitoring of additional use, to changes in usage. additional PMN.

To propose additional PMN, state companies must carry out government assignments, restructuring or rescuing BUMN, and developing company business. The government assignment in question is an assignment from the President to BUMN.

This step is carried out through a coordination scheme between the relevant (technical) Minister and the Minister of SOEs. The technical minister submits an application for assignment to the Minister of Finance. Furthermore, the Minister of Finance forwards to the President.

The regulation also stipulates that the board of directors can only apply for additional PMNs, if the goal is to restructure and develop SOEs' businesses. The application is based on the results of a review by the board of directors and has received a written response from the board of commissioners or supervisors.

"So it can be said that all of our candy bars are assignments. If you want profit, BNI, BRI, and BTN have to pay dividends because of corporate actions. Most of this is for assignments," he said.