Author: yosefardi.com

Bakrie might still be the largest group (outside Astra, SOEs, and banks) on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) by total assets (US$19.6 billion as of December 31, 2012 at Rp9200/USD). Salim Group’s total assets (five companies) were only half of Bakrie in the same period.

Some people initially believed that Dahlan Iskan has nothing to lose management style. They then expect Dahlan would reform the management of state-owned enterprises. He portrayed himself a guy like that, less bureaucratic, lean management…That’s probably why he was so confident in delegating some of his powers in managing SOEs.

Aburizal Bakrie is confident that he will gain full support from Golkar Party to be a president candidate in 2014, even though some favor former VP Jusuf Kalla. Some then claimed that Kalla might be nominated by President SBY’s Demokrat Party to enter the race.

He was only director of a small state-owned cement manufacturer PT Semen Baturaja. His decision to join Demokrat Party, however, has elevated his status in the society. In 2009, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR). His business ventures have also grown tremendously, including in the ‘hot sectors’.

Leo Nickolaevich Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no none thinks of changing himself.” That’s the common respond of some people we asked about the entry of some independent candidates in this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial race.