Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa recently announced a significant move to bolster accountability within PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI). A dedicated representative from the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) will be assigned to provide direct oversight of the state-owned enterprise.
Sadewa emphasized that the assigned representative should hold a technical position, capable of meticulously scrutinizing detailed reports. He explicitly stated his disapproval of assigning high-ranking officials like Deputy Ministers or Director Generals, fearing they might merely ‘collect a salary for nothing’ by only making superficial, monthly visits.
The Minister articulated his vision for this role: “What I want is for them to examine detailed reports and report back to us, the Ministry of Finance, on a regular basis. This ensures that any irregularities or undesired practices can be effectively monitored and detected as swiftly as possible.” This proactive approach aims to safeguard the integrity of DSI’s operations.
Sadewa further underscored the imperative for strict supervision over PT DSI, an entity pivotal in managing Indonesia’s CPO and coal exports. He highlighted a common concern among market observers: “If it doesn’t become a monopoly in itself, it won’t be effective; it might even become a new hotbed for corruption. Therefore, having multiple entities oversee it will be much better.” This sentiment underscores the necessity for diverse institutional involvement.
Echoing this sentiment, Dony Oskaria, COO of Danantara, confirmed that the commitment to comprehensive oversight extends beyond the Ministry of Finance. He elaborated that PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia will also receive representatives from the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Investment/BKPM, reinforcing the multi-stakeholder approach.
Oskaria affirmed the collaborative effort, stating, “To enhance our human resources, we are also being assisted by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, and BKPM, who are deploying their personnel within Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia.” He concluded by emphasizing that this initiative is not merely an independent undertaking by Danantara but rather a strategic effort to garner robust support from all stakeholders involved in refining the future structure of Indonesia’s natural resource exports.
Summary
The Indonesian Ministry of Finance is implementing stricter oversight for PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) by assigning dedicated technical representatives to monitor its operations. Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa specified that these officials must focus on scrutinizing detailed reports rather than performing superficial visits, aiming to ensure transparency and promptly detect any irregularities in the company’s activities.
This initiative adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to manage PT DSI, which plays a crucial role in the country’s CPO and coal exports. To prevent corruption and maintain operational integrity, representatives from the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Investment/BKPM will also be deployed to provide comprehensive supervision and support in refining the firm’s export structures.