Minister Of Trade Budi Santoso Absent, Steel Industry Rescue Meeting Postponed

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission VI of the DPR has decided to postpone the Working Meeting (raker) with an agenda for discussing the evaluation of the rescue of the national steel industry which was held today.

The postponement was a form of disappointment by the members of the council for the absence of the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso in the meeting.

The meeting actually started at 10.20 WIB, with an initial presentation from the Deputy Minister of Industry (Wamenperin) Faisol Riza.

However, after the discussion took place, the majority of members of Commission VI of the DPR suggested that the meeting be stopped and rescheduled.

During the meeting, Commission VI member Herman Khaeron assessed that this meeting was not representative to discuss strategic policy issues because the main decision makers were not present.

Herman added that the meeting which was attended at the Director General's level, the Minister's Expert Staff, did not get the expected substance.

According to him, the questions asked by Commission VI in the meeting would not result in the best decision.

The steel issue is a policy issue that demands definite cross-sectoral coordination from the government, including to give priority to the domestic steel industry, so that PT Krakatau Steel does not continue to lose money.

"So we are informative, this will not result in the best decision," he said in a meeting quoted from YouTube TV Parliament, Monday, November 10.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission VI Nurdin Halid assessed that the steel industry issue is a matter of policy that is very important to uphold economic sovereignty and spur national growth.

Nurdin highlighted the presence of representatives at the lower level of the Ministry of Trade. He said the representative only provided information, while what Commission VI of the DPR needed was a strategic decision.

"So in my opinion, Mrs. Chairman, we postponed this meeting until the Minister of Trade was present," he said.

Hearing the views of the members, the Chairman of Commission VI and the chair of the Anggia Ermarini meeting decided to close the meeting. As a conclusion, Commission VI of the DPR RI received an explanation from the Ministry of Industry.

However, continued Anggia, due to the absence of the Minister of Trade, a working meeting was decided to be postponed. He said Commission VI would reschedule meetings to discuss saving the national steel industry at another time.

"Thus, we close the meeting and we will inform you later that we will reschedule, reschedule for our discussion related to saving the national steel industry. Thank you, I will close," he said.