Sudirman Said: Exposing the mafia is not a minister's job  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In the new Indonesian cabinet, energy and mineral resources are classified as a 'hot' yet powerful sector. One example is the government's plan to raise fuel prices, an issue which is about to reach boiling point. It was in this state of affairs Sudirman Said found himself last week, when he began his job as Indonesia's minister of energy and mineral resources. Understandably, the 51-year-old Sudirman immediately set out to adopt a cautionary approach. During this interview with Tempo, he distanced himself from the fuel price issue. "Let's give the question of fuel price a pass," he said, adding that it would just unsettle the public. "Most importantly, Pertamina is ready and a team has been formed [to handle this]." 

In the days ahead, Sudirman's work in managing the energy sector is bound to multiply, particularly in stamping out corruption and the 'mafia'. He feels, however, that exposing syndicates involved in energy-related criminal activities is not part of his job description. "That's not the task of the minister, but the law enforcers," Sudirman stressed. Not so long ago, his predecessor, Jero Wacik, was indicted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). 

By his own admission, his short-term mission is very clear, and that is to revitalize the ministry before the year's end. He declared himself to be the mortal enemy of the mafia. "If we have the right plan of execution, the mafia's movement would be very restricted," he explained. 

Last week, he surprised Tempo's team of reporters who met him at his headquarters in Central Jakarta, by announcing his new policy on the media: no doorstep interviews. "This is much better. Interviews must be focused," said Sudirman. Excerpts:

Your name was never previously mentioned as a possible minister, let alone as the person to lead the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. 

Yes, it was never publicized. I was summoned on Saturday (October 25) afternoon by President Joko Widodo. Before that, Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called to congratulate me.

Are you close to Jusuf Kalla? 

We were involved together in managing [the aftermath of] the tsunami. We often held meetings when I assisted Pak Kuntoro (Mangkusubroto, chairman of the Aceh-Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency or the BRR).

Were you first contacted by a headhunter? 

As a matter of fact, the headhunters contacted me long before that, during the actual process. They wanted my suggestions on names of prospective ministers.

What did you and the president talk about that Saturday you met him? 

The sustainability of energy supplies, old oil refineries, unsuccessful lifting (oil production), not enough exploration activities and a discussion on minerals.

Did you offer any solution? 

I told him that liftings often failed to make the target because of deep-rooted vested interests. As long as the government manages it well, there would always be a solution.

Some say your job as the energy and mining minister was the middle road taken to solve a conflict between two groups, and that's Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and those who oppose him.

No. Until the day of the announcement, I still did not believe I would be minister because there were many more qualified people.

When will fuel prices go up? 

We don't want to publicize it yet. That could cause anxiety. What the finance minister said about fuel prices going up before 2015 is correct. They know best about insufficient funds, including calculations of how much would be needed to compensate people. Here, we just receive instructions and prepare the edict on the price rise.

In your opinion, how should Pertamina manage the fuel price hike? 

We have stressed that we must be ready at any time. They Pertamina reported that starting today, a team [to manage it] has been formed.

When the government no longer has to pay subsidies, where will the funds go? 

We would like to build infrastructure at oil reserves locations, which would cost about Rp30 trillion. We can build storage areas which could store oil reserves for 30 days, which would really be for stored as reserves and nothing else.

Regarding the oil and gas mafia, what strategy will you use to fight them? 

The job of the energy and mining minister is not to expose the mafia. That's the work of the law enforcers. My job is to ensure that all aspects of the energy and mining sector are managed well.

But at least, the ministry will be able to restrict the mafia's movement and activities. 

Directly or indirectly. If we have the right policy and execute it well, their movements would be very restricted. (*)

Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine