Category: Profiles

Arsul Sani, the deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly, the highest legislative body in Indonesia, has been elected as the new justice of the Constitutional Court (MK). Arsul Sani’s election as the new constitutional justice is worth highlighting in light of the 2024 simultaneous elections because of his position as the deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), an Islamic party that is strongly affiliated to the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in the country. PPP is also a member of the ruling party PDIP’s coalition in endorsing Ganjar Pranowo as presidential candidate for 2024 race.

Shares of plantation firm PT Sawit Sumbermas Sarana Tbk (SSMS) ended lower by 2% on Tuesday (Sep 5), while sister palm processing company PT Citra Borneo Utama Tbk (CBUT) fell 3.8%. SSMS and CBUT are both controlled by Citra Indah Borneo (CBI) Group, which is owned by the family of H Abdul Rasyid AS.

Kapal Api is one of the largest F&B players yet to be listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). There was a plan for an initial public offering (IPO), but Covid-19 pandemic forced a delay. The pandemic is over, so some revisit the planned IPO.

Centenarian businessman Sukanta Tanudjaja, founder of PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia and some other companies, has on Saturday (Aug 24) passed away in Singapore. Sukanta is father of Sunjoto Tanudjaja, founder of Great River, once one of the largest textile and garment companies in the country.

Visi Asia Media (VIVA), the parent of TVOne and ANTV owned by Bakrie Group, recorded revenues of Rp619.2 billion in the first half (H1) of 2023, declined 32.3% year on year (y/y), worsened from last year with revenues only declining 0.65%. VIVA, accordingly, was not able to reduce its tax liabilities to the State (Rp461 billion as of June 30, up 1.9% from December 31, 2022), which is ten times tax payables of Hary Tanoesoedibjo’s MNCN (parent of RCTI and GlobalTV).

Following the merger of Indosat and Hutchison 3, Indonesia now has four players in the cellular business. By far, SmartFren Telecom (FREN), controlled by the family of Widjaja (Sinarmas Group), is the smallest, and until now struggles with years of losses. 

Sinarmas Group has recently embarked on a US$3.6 billion expansion project to build new factory in West Java province with 3.9 million tons per annum capacity. Financing details of this project yet to be released, but Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (INKP) and its sister company Lontar Papyrus have launched Rp19 trillion perpetual bonds program.

Budi Arie Setiadi, a loyalist of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has been sworn in as the new Minister of Communications & Informatics (ICT) replacing Johnny G Plate, the disgraced politician from Nasdem, a political party led by media mogul Surya Paloh. Budi Arie is the chairman of Pro Jokowi (Projo), arguably the largest volunteer group of President Jokowi.

Rosan P Roeslani, co-founder of Recapital Group, was elected new chairman of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia) eight years ago. It was a landslide victory over rival Rachmat Gobel, former minister of trade and politician from NasDem Party. Most believed Rosan would later be joining the cabinet, but he was appointed Ambassador to the US two years ago. 

Unlike most leaders of Islamic boarding schools, Panji Gumilang, controversial leader of Al-Zaytun, prefers to wear western-style fashion, complete with tie. Panji is man of the hour due to series of investigations of blasphemy at the national police and his hundreds of bank accounts by the anti-money laundering agency PPATK.