SOE Responds to Annulment of Rudiantara's Naming as PLN Director

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former minister of communication and informatics Rudiantara was lately rumored to be appointed as the new president director of state-run electricity firm PLN. However, Tempo’s source said the plan was canceled.

Last week, the former minister was frequently mentioned by officials close to the palace. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said President Jokowi had tapped Rudiantara as the new president director.

“I think the President appointing Pak Rudi is the right decision. PLN will be more advanced,” said Luhut at Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, Monday, December 9.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung said the candidate had been decided. Yet, he neither confirmed nor denied the issue related to Rudiantara.

According to Pramono, the candidates had been discussed in the final assessment team (TPA) meeting. “It has been completed. The ball is in the SOE Minister now,” he added.

In response to the latest issue that Rudiantara would not lead the state firm, a special staffer for SOE Minister Arya Sinulingga claimed he was in the dark. “I don’t know,” said Arya at SOE Ministry building on Monday, December 16.

Arya explained that the appointment of the corporate’s president director was still afoot as planned, and no changes had been made.

Rudiantara was rumored that he would serve as a PLN president director to replace Sripeni Inten Cahyani, the current acting president director. Sripeni got the job since Sofyan Basir’s resignation on May 29, 2019, as he involved in the bribery case of steam power plant Riau-1.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY | AHMAD FAIZ