Pertahok: Former Jakarta governor in contention to lead state-owned enterprise, has Jokowi’s backing

The first photo taken of former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama following his release from prison on Jan 24, 2019. Photo: Tim BTP
The first photo taken of former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama following his release from prison on Jan 24, 2019. Photo: Tim BTP

Former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has mostly shied away from politics ever since his release from prison in January after serving his highly controversial two-year sentence for blasphemy.

Now, rumors are swirling around that Ahok is set to make his return to a strategic official post, albeit this time to lead a state-owned enterprise (BUMN).

The rumors were fueled (excuse the pun) after Ahok recently met with BUMN Minister Erick Thohir about taking up a leadership post at a BUMN. 

“To me, if there is a chance to help the country, I’ll be ready,” Ahok told reporters yesterday.

Among the leadership positions that have been rumored to be filled by Ahok are those of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina and state-owned utility firm PLN.

Pertamina was hit with a huge scandal earlier this year when its former boss Karen Agustiawan was named suspect in a graft case, while PLN in August left Jakarta, Banten and West Java literally in the dark in the worst blackout in recent memory.  

Adding weight to the rumors, President Joko Widodo, who is known as a close political ally to Ahok after the two served as governor and vice governor of Jakarta respectively, said he backs the 53-year-old to succeed in a BUMN post.

“We know Ahok’s work. So, right now we are in the selection process,” Jokowi told reporters today, without specifying which BUMN Ahok would lead.

Some politicians have voiced their opposition to Ahok’s potential appointment to a BUMN leadership role, arguing that his criminal record should come under consideration and that political motivations should not play a part in picking BUMN bosses.

During his time as governor, Ahok was seen as an incorruptible, no-nonsense figure who didn’t mince his words when attacking his enemies nor pull his punches when carrying out policies he believed were of the greatest benefit to the capital’s citizens.

While that endeared him to many of his supporters, it also led to his imprisonment for blasphemy against Islam as it was a speech he made mentioning that his enemies had used a certain verse in the Quran to convince others not to vote for him — a Chinese Christian — that triggered his conviction and defeat in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.



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