Sri Mulyani Kenang Sosok Bambang Subianto: Even Though The Minister Of Finance's West Java Short But Has Placed The Economic Reform Foundation

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani (Photo via Antara)

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati remembers the late Bambang Subianto as a figure who laid the foundations of Indonesia's economic and financial reforms.

"Although he is relatively short in serving as Minister of Finance, Mr. Bambang is a figure who has contributed to laying the foundation of Indonesia's economic and financial reforms," Sri Mulyani said in an official Instagram account monitored in Jakarta, Saturday, November 5.

Sri Mulyani said, the figure who just passed away at the age of 77 is a figure who also has high integrity and commitment to dealing with the nation's problems which are very difficult, complicated and challenging.

"In the midst of the turmoil in the 1998 monetary crisis, he was appointed Minister of Finance by President BJ Habibie to deal with the widespread banking crisis into an economic, social and political crisis," he said.

He also remembers the deceased as a figure who was able to make important decisions for dealing with the crisis and gave opportunities to discuss with young lecturers, such as himself at that time, regarding crucial economic policies in the 1998 financial crisis era.

"Mr. Bambang often invites me to discuss the situation of a complex economic and financial crisis and complicated policy choices, but they must still be taken which is really not easy," said Sri Mulyani.

Previously, the Minister of Finance of the Development Reform Cabinet Bambang Subianto died at Pondok Indah Hospital, South Jakarta, Friday, November 4 at the age of 77.

Bambang Subianto, who was born on January 10, 1945, won the Master of Company Finance and Economic Business at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, in 1981 and earned a PhD in Industrial Organization in 1984.

In 1988 Bambang became the staff of the Minister of Finance as Director of the Department of Finance and Accounting. In 1992, he was promoted to Director General in the Department of Finance.

While serving as Director General, Bambang was active in developing various laws and regulations, including capital market law in 1995 as well as returns law other than taxes in 1997.

In the middle of the monetary crisis in January 1998, Bambang was appointed Chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) which became the forerunner of BPPN. Then in May 1998, Bambang served as Minister of Finance for the 1998-1999 period.

After no longer having a career in government, Bambang joined Ernst and Young as a partner in July 2000 and retired in 2005. After retiring, he served as president commissioner of PT Star Energy Investments and became an independent Commissioner at PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk.