Dahlan Iskan Lauds New COVID-19 Committee Leader Erick Thohir

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan on Wednesday acknowledged the appointing of SOEs Minister Erick Thohir as the government’s ‘COVID-19 handling and national economic recovery committee’ and considers it the ‘perfect choice.’ 

“I see why Erick Thohir was appointed, it is because of his personality and ability, apart from the fact that he is a wealthy individual. The wealthier a person is, the more they are feared,” said Dahlan Iskan in a virtual discussion on July 22. 

Dahlan personally views Erick Thohir as a wealthy individual that does not need to further prove anything anymore, which he thinks will enable him to create new breakthroughs in solving current issues. 

“As I have said, don’t go against three types of people, your employer, a rich person, and a crazy person. Perhaps, Erick Thohir is all three of them combined,” said the PLN president director.

During the discussion, Dahlan also noted Erick’s close relations with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, which he argues will enable Erick to make flexible decisions as to the committee’s chief executive. 

In his new venture with the committee, Erick Thohir will be assisted by the COVID-19 handling task force, Doni Monardo, and the national economic transformation and recovery task force, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, which Dahlan Iskan believes are two men who are masters in their field.

Read also: Dahlan Iskan Willing to Volunteer for COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

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