It is not easy to manage that many state-owned enterprises with asset value estimated to be greater than the holding company of Temasek in Singapore and Khazanah Nasional Berhad in Malaysia.
Thus, the challenge that Rini has to manage the Indonesian state enterprises is very tough. Encountering "attacks" from some political parties has been usual to her. They even urged President Joko Widodo to replace Rini as the Minister of State-owned Enterprises.
Nevertheless, the minister remains strong and has repeatedly asserted that she has never changed in terms of working professionally, dedicates to the country, and always prioritizes the national interest.
The minister is a professional who knows not only business, but also understands the governmental bureaucracy. Likewise, she is very close to people, especially with farmers.
She has previously been a leader in several big companies. Rini who once served as the Executive Director of PT Astra International in 1998-2000 assumed a position as the Minister of Industry and Trade on the Cabinet of Gotong Royong in 2001-2004.
When she served as the Minister of Industry and Trade in the era of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Rini was considered meritorious for stopping sugar import which was massively occurred. Stopping the import of sugar made Rini gain appreciations from the sugarcane farmers across the nation.
Seeing Rini's steadfastness and professionalism, economic analyst Dr.Jos Luhukay is optimistic that Rini Soemarno is able to advance the state-owned enterprises and even bring the state-owned enterprises to the golden age.
Jos in a conversation with reporters not long ago pointed out that Rini as the Minister of State-owned Enterprises continues to improve every single sector like she had done when she was the CEO of a gigantic business group.
According to economist, who is also an expert in information technology, currently in Indonesia there are 119 state-owned enterprises engaged in various business sectors from small to large scales.
He considered Rini today provides a strong foundation for the advancement of state enterprises, including by placing people who are professionals in their respective fields and to select appropriate deputies in the ministry.
The former Executive Director of PT Bank Lippo Tbk, also considered, as a professional Rini dares to take controversial decisions for some people, such as continuing the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project without depending on state budgets.
To optimize the role of state-owned companies in the national economy, Jos suggested that they be managed in the holding company scheme like Temasek in Singapore and Khazanah Nasional Berhard in Malaysia.
Temasek and Khazanah in recent years have even been able to buy and acquire several large companies in several Asian countries, including Indonesia.
State-owned Super holding
The State-owned Enterprise Minister, Rini Soemarno, recently put forward a bold proposal to establish a state-owned superholding and negate the Ministry of State-owned Enterprises
According to Rini, the State-owned Enterprises super holding formation is needed to let the state-owned enterprises move freely and more agile in developing their businesses in accordance with corporate systems.
The super holding will make the state-owned enterprises be able to become more professional, flexible, and able to improve global competitiveness and no longer burden the state budget.
The establishment of the State-owned Enterprise super holding idea was delivered by Rini at a discussion on public policy and business development network in Jakarta on July 25, 2016.
She stated the proposal could also be on the agenda in the discussion of the revision of Law No. 19 of 2003 on state-owned enterprises.
Provisions need to be set in the revision of the regulation is to create good governance in the state-owned enterprises which are professional, flexible, and free from other sides' interventions.
According to Rini, in Singapore there is a super holding company named Temasek which oversees a number of business sectors, such as telecommunications and technology, financial services, transportation, industry real estate, agriculture, energy and finances.
In Malaysia the giant holding company of Khazanah Nasional Berhad does not merely seek for financial gain, but also provides great social benefits.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dodi Reza Alex Noerdin, was surprised with the discourse delivered by the Minister of State-owned Enterprises.
The Commission VI, according to him, will soon discuss the idea intensively.
Meanwhile, journalists support Rini's progressive idea to establish the state-owned enterprises Super holding so it can contribute more to the national economy.
The support was raised in a meeting between the Minister of State-owned Enterprises and editors of national media in the month of Ramadhan.
On that occasion the minister recognized the importance of mass media in publicizing the progress of state-owned companies which, according to Jos Luhukay, are heading to the golden age under the leadership of Rini.(*)
Reporter: Aat Surya Safaat
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
