Jokowi Inaugurates Megawati As Chair Of The BRIN Steering Committee, In The Position Of Secretary There Is Garudafood Conglomerate Boss Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo

Conglomerate Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo inaugurated Megawati Soekarnoputri as Chair of the Steering Committee of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 13. In the membership composition of the BRIN Steering Committee, there is the name of the boss of PT Garudafood Putra Putri Jaya Tbk, conglomerate Sudhamek Agong Waspodo Soenjoto.

Sudhamek is the 64th richest person in Indonesia according to Forbes as of December 2020. The 65-year-old man's wealth has reached US$590 million, or around Rp. 8.4 trillion.

Garudafood's popular products include Kacang Garuda, Pilus Garuda, Gery biscuits, Chocolatos, and Leo. Currently, GarudaFood already has more than 13 thousand employees.

The inauguration of the BRIN Steering Committee is based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 45 of 2021 which was set on October 12, 2021. The complete membership composition of the BRIN Steering Committee is as follows:

1. Megawati Soekarnoputri as Chair2. Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati as Deputy Chair3. Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Suharso Monoarfa as Deputy Chair4. Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo Soenjoto as Secretary5. Emil Salim as Member6. I Gede Wenten as Member7. Bambang Kesowo as Member8. Adi Utarini as Member9. Marsudi Wahyu Kisoro as Member10. Tri Qualified as a Member

"By Allah, I swear that I will be loyal to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and will carry out all laws and regulations as straight as possible for the sake of my service to the nation and state, that in carrying out my duties, I will uphold ethics work as well as possible with a full sense of responsibility," said a member of the BRIN Steering Committee when taking the oath of office under the guidance of President Joko Widodo, quoted from Antara.

After taking the oath of office, President Jokowi congratulated the Steering Committee in person, except for Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, who was sworn in via video conference because she was abroad.

Based on article 7 paragraph (2) Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 33 of 2021 concerning the National Research and Innovation Agency, the chairman of the BRIN Steering Committee ex-officio comes from an element of the Steering Committee of the body that organizes the development of the Pancasila ideology.

Megawati Soekarnoputri is known to be the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP). Another member of the BRIN Steering Committee who also comes from BPIP is Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo.

Still based on Presidential Decree No. 33 of 2021, the Deputy Chairperson of the Steering Committee is mandated to be held by professional and/or academic elements while the Secretary and Members are held by professional and/or academic elements in the fields of research, development, and application, as well as scientific and technological inventions and innovations for a maximum of seven (7) people.

Present at the inauguration were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister for State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.