TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public policy analyst Karyono Wibowo said on Sunday, November 30, 2014, that he was pessimistic with the Pertamina’s new board of directors, saying that there was still a chance of Pertamina being liberalized.

Earlier on Friday, November 28, 2014, the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry appointed former PT Semen Indonesia director Dwi Soetjipto as the new Pertamina president director. The ministry also appointed Yenny Andayani, Ahmad Bambang and Arief Budiman as members of Pertamina’s board of directors.

“I also smell something fishy with Arif Budiman’s appointment,” Karyono said.

Arif Budiman previously served as a president director of US-Based management consulting firm McKinsey Indonesia.

Furthermore, Karyono claimed that Yenny Andayani was Ari Soemarno’s protégé. Ari Soemarno is former Pertamina President Director, who is also State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno’s brother. Ari’s track record was not convincing as he was probed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for being allegedly involved in a bribery case with Innospec Ltd.

Therefore, Karyono doubted that the new board of directors would meet President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s expectation to eradicate oil and gas mafia practices.

ANDI RUSLI