Minister Of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi Regarding The Merger Of The Ministry Of SOEs To Danantara: Just Want To Discuss

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi opened his voice about the discourse on the merger of the Ministry of SOEs into the Danantara Investment Management Agency (BPI).

He said it was possible that the merger would occur.

"Wait for the discussion. This is just about to be discussed," said Prasetyo at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 23.

Prasetyo said, there is a possibility that the status of the Ministry of SOEs will be lowered in line with the operational function of state-owned companies being transferred to Danantara.

"So there is a possibility that the ministry might want us to lower its status to an agency. There is a possibility like that," he said.

Prasetyo said, certainty about this matter will be determined through the discussion of the Fourth Amendment Bill on Law Number 19 of 2003 concerning BUMN with Commission VI of the DPR RI.

"Wait a minute. Wait for us to discuss it," he said.

Previously, BUMN observer and NEXT Indonesia Center Director, Herry Gunawan, said that the discourse on the merger of the Ministry of SOEs to Danantara Indonesia might occur. Given that the main function of the Ministry of SOEs, in this case, the management of SOEs has been taken over by Danantara.

Based on the BUMN Law (UU), continued Herry, state-owned companies are no longer separated state assets, but as private institutions. This is stated in the BUMN Law Number 25, article 4A paragraph (5).

"Thus, those that apply to the current BUMN rules should be the same as other private corporations. For this reason, regulations from the Ministry of SOEs are no longer needed," he told VOI, Thursday, September 18.

According to Herry, the best practice in neighboring countries also shows the same thing.

Like Singapore, which has Temasek and Malaysia with Khazanah, it is a superior wealth fund (SWF).

Both countries do not have a Ministry of SOEs.

"Especially as the best practice, in Singapore which has good SWFs such as Temasek, because it contributes greatly to state revenues, it also does not require the Ministry of SOEs. Likewise with Malaysia which has Khazanah, SWF with good performance," he said.

Therefore, said Herry, there are no obstacles for President Prabowo to dissolve the Ministry of SOEs.

Moreover, he continued, the ministry has almost lost its function.

"That's enough, the guidelines for managing SOEs come from Danantara and from other authorities such as BI and OJK or other authorities," he said.