Often Attending Political Party Events, Erick Thohir Opens His Voice: I'm Invited

Screenshot of the DPR working meeting with SOE Minister Erick Thohir. (Photo: VOI/Mary Handayani)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir has been invited to several political party events. Recently, he was invited to the NasDem Party National Gathering (Silatnas) entitled 'We Pancasila, Pancasila Responds to Challenges' at NasDem Tower, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, June 2.

Responding to this, Erick Thohir admitted that the invitation had no political content. He said that the event was not only attended by himself but also the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno and the Chairman of the MPR RI Bambang Soesatyo.

"Yesterday, I came to NasDem as a speaker for the Pancasila event. I wasn't the only one (who attended), there was Mr. Bamsoet, there was Mr. Sandi," Erick told reporters at the Indonesian Parliament Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 7.

Erick also said that NasDem was not the only one who invited him. Recently, the National Mandate Party (PAN) has also invited him as an economist.

In addition, PDI Perjuangan has also invited himself as a guest at its event, entitled the coffee festival.

"Yesterday, at PAN, we spoke as an economist, because we talked about economics. Yes. Usually I was invited by PDIP as a coffee maker. How is it a national coffee," explained Erick.

He admitted that he had no intention of attending the party. Everything was attended due to fulfill the incoming invitation.

"Yes, that's limited to that (invitation, ed)," he said.

On Thursday, July 2, Erick Thohir was present at the NasDem Tower following the National Gathering (Silatnas) of the NasDem Party. At that time, the General Chair of NasDem Surya Paloh had called Erick a rising star. The nickname was conveyed by Surya Paloh when he was about to close the opening speech of the Silatnas event.

"So is Erick Thohir, our young leader, a rising star. We hope that we can strengthen these Pancasila values going forward, struggling in the future struggle," said Surya Paloh at the time.