Minister Luhut Pandjaitan Denies 'PCR Business' Allegations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan from his Instagram account on Wednesday addressed news that alleges him of being connected in the PCR testing business after a company he is affiliated with - PT Genomik Solidaritas - was tracked down to PCR test laboratories in Jakarta. 

“I have never, not even the least, personally benefited from the business run by PT Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia,” said the Minister on November 3. 

Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI) is a company that manages laboratories that conduct PCR tests. It has 5 branches in the capital city of Jakarta. According to the November 1 Tempo Magazine edition, there are two companies affiliated with Luhut Pandjaitan which consist of PT Toba Sejahtera and PT Toba Bumi Energi. Both reportedly have a holding stock in GSI.

Both companies own 242 shares (Rp242 million) in GSI. Luhut maintains that Toba Bumi Energi along with Indika, Adaro, and Northstar are actually helping provide swab test facilities in large quantities. 

In his social media post, Luhut insists that the companies are transparent enough that he never uses the foundation in giving assistance. In terms of profit generated from Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia, he claims, are all distributed to swab test healthcare facilities such as the Covid-19 emergency hospital Wisma Atlet. 

Read: PCR Tests to Be Mandatory for Other Transportation Modes: Luhut

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA