TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had agreed on the appointment of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (BPT), known as Ahok, as the chief commissioner of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina. The final assessment team, he added, had come to the decision.

“Inshallah, [President Jokowi] has decided that Pak Basuki will be the new Pertamina chief commissioner,” said Erick at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday, November 22.

Erick explained that Basuki would be assisted by SOE Deputy Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikini, who would be appointed as the deputy chief commissioner. “[The appointment] can be processed immediately today or Monday,” he said.

According to Erick, Basuki must resign from the PDIP Party following the latter's appointment. “We have told all candidates since the beginning that the SOE’s independence is necessary. Inshallah, those having good intentions acknowledge the risk of dedicating themselves to the country,” he added.

The minister further called on all people against Basuki’s appointment to give the former Jakarta Governor time to work.

Earlier, the SOE Ministry announced that Pertamina’s general shareholders' meeting (RUPS) would be held soon, either at the end of November or early December.

A special staffer of the ministry, Arya Sinulingga, said one of the meeting agendas was the reshuffle of directors and commissioners. However, he stopped short of detailing the names. He neither confirmed nor denied whether Ahok would be a Pertamina leader.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI | DIAS PRASONGKO