Lawmaker Candidates from Business Sector (V)
Like in South Kalimantan election area, we see some people from coal business nominated as lawmakers in Central Kalimantan, home to both coking and thermal coal resources. Gerindra Party, for example, nominates executive of one coal mining group with assets in both provinces. Gerindra’s boss Prabowo Subianto is known for interests in the industry.
Lawmaker Candidates from Business Sector (IV)
Sarwoto Atmosutarno, former CEO of Telkomsel, a JV between Telkom and SingTel, is nominated a lawmaker candidate of Nasional Demokrat (NasDem) Party for Central Java V election area. He competes controversial celebrity Angel Lelga Anddreyani (from Islamic party PPP) and Puan Maharani (daughter of Megawati Soekarnoputri, PDI-P) in the area.
Lawmaker Candidates from Business Sector (III)
Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party nominates G Budisatrio Djiwandono, director of the troubled pulp manufacturer PT Kertas Nusantara (controlled by Prabowo), as lawmaker in East Kalimantan election area. The 33-year old executive competes with people like Norbaiti Isran Noor, wife of Eas Kutai regent Isran Noor, in the resource rich province.
Lawmaker Candidates from Business Sector (II)
Harry Tanoesoedibjo’s Hanura Party nominates Arief Suditomo, chief editor of RCTI and managing director of Sindo TV (both are companies controlled by Harry’s MNC Group), as lawmaker candidate for West Java I election area. Prabowo’s Gerindra Party, meanwhile, nominates Aria Sulhan Witoelar (CEO of Bubu Kreasi Perdana), for West Java III election area.
Lawmaker Candidates from Business Sector
Charles Honoris, director of PT Foton Mobilindo (distributor of automotive products)—member of Modern Group (Honoris Family), is among lawmaker candidates for Jakarta III election area from PDI Perjuangan. He competes names like Effendi Simbolon (lawmaker at House Commission VII) and Richard Sam Bera (Indonesian swimming champion) in that area as candidates from PDI-P.
Karen Agustiawan & SKK Migas Scandals
Some were caught by surprise with a front page report of Kompas, the largest newspaper in the country, on Thursday. Kompas quoted anonymous source that Karen Agustiawan, CEO of Pertamina (the largest company in Indonesia), was caught in a conversation with then SKK Migas chief Rudi Rubiandini, who is a bribery and money laundering suspect, about ‘bonus’ for lawmakers at the House Commission VII (overseeing energy and mining affairs).
Adrian Kiki Ariawan
Adrian Kiki Ariawan has finally been extradited from Australia to Indonesia. Adrian, former shareholder of the collapsed Bank Surya, has been detained at Cipinang Correction Center since yesterday. The 70-year old was sentenced for life in prison in an in absentia trial because Kiki escaped to Australia. Judges found Kiki guilty for disbursing loans to 168 fictitious companies, while the bank got liquidity assistance from Bank Indonesia (known as BLBI).
Bakrie Oleochemical: Opportunity (Loss)?
Sinarmas Group’s Golden Agri-Resources mulls US$500 million investment plan to boost its presence in the oleochemical world, especially fatty acid. Djarum and Wings Group, meanwhile, expand their fatty alcohol business. Fatty acid and alcohols are two of the widely produced derivatives of palm oil used in pharmaceuticals, soap, shampoo, etc. How about Bakrie’s oleochemical assets acquired from the collapsed Domba Mas Group few years ago?
SBY: BS, BS, and More BS, Again
What more can I say? President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has once again claimed that eradication of corruption during his term is the most aggressive in Indonesian history. A naïve claim considering the poor performances of the two key law enforcement institutions under the president’s watch: the Police and Attorney General Office (AGO). And then there are SBY’s Democratic Party colleagues and his cabinet members who are implicated in various graft cases. Aggressive corruption eradication? Really?
Jokowi’s Match: Tri Rismaharini
The prevailing belief is that no one can compete with the Governor of Jakarta, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. But a friend of mine disagreed, he believed that the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, could very well defeat Jokowi. At that time, I didn’t believe him because I had not done the necessary calculations, including the discrepancy between Risma’s and Jokowi’s electability. But I’m beginning to see signs that Risma is being prepared for the presidential arena. It’s a work in progress. So, let’s talk a bit about this possibility.