Only 17.63% of State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) Commissioners Come from Professional Backgrounds

Transparency International Indonesia (TII) recently released a report on the transparency of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) titled "SOEs: Profit, Public, or Politics?". A striking finding from the report reveals that only 17.63% (85 individuals) of SOE commissioners were appointed from professional backgrounds.

Transparency International Indonesia Secretary General Danang Widoyoko stated that out of a total of 482 commissioners, 82.37% were appointed based on political considerations. These strategic positions include former ministers, high-ranking government officials, and members of state bodies/institutions.

A total of 249 individuals (51.66%) of SOE commissioners come from the bureaucracy. The remainder includes 71 individuals (14.73%) with political backgrounds, 29 (6.02%) from the military, 28 (5.81%) from the national law enforcement agencies (APH), and 20 (4.15%) holding other strategic positions.

Danang believes the root problem of politically appointed commissioners lies in poorly regulated politics. Politicians, he says, whether non-party volunteers or party activists, need to find funding for political activities.

Furthermore, Danang also emphasizes the need for the government to establish professional criteria and standards for the recruitment of non-professional commissioners.