Political picks cloud Indonesian SOE minister's restructuring bid

Musician and cleric among new commissioners amid major consolidation, IPO plans

20210616 indonesia story

Erick Thohir, right, Indonesia's minister in charge of state-owned enterprises, has come under criticism for appointing a member of rock bank Slank to Telkom Indonesia's board of commissioners. (Source photos by Reuters and screenshot from Abdee Negara Instagram account)

ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Jobs for a rock guitarist and a prominent cleric as commissioners at Indonesia's state-owned enterprises are among a clutch of appointments raising questions over SOE Minister Erick Thohir's restructuring push.

State-owned Telekomunikasi Indonesia, or Telkom, the country's largest telecommunications operator, recently rekindled debates over what many see as political appointments after it named Abdi Negara Nurdin -- a guitarist with local rock band Slank and an ally of President Joko Widodo -- into its board of commissioners.

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