Prabowo Orders State-Owned Banks to Cut Commissioners, Keep Only Professionals
Reporter
March 26, 2025 | 07:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed state-owned banks to streamline their Board of Commissioners by reducing the number of members and ensuring that only professionals fill the roles.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto conveyed this directive after a limited meeting with Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 26, 2026.
"The management structure of state-owned bank BUMN is to have a reduced number of commissioners as per the President's instruction," said Airlangga at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, on the same day.
According to Airlangga, both Bank Mandiri and BRI have accepted the directive and agreed to trim their board of directors and commissioners, adjusting the number as necessary. "Later, as needed. But compared to the previous number, it will be leaner now," he added.
Currently, the minimum number of members on the Board of Commissioners for state-owned banks is three, with a maximum equal to the number of board members. Commissioners oversee and provide guidance to the directors in managing company operations.
Previously, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Adian Napitupulu stated that all commissioner and director positions in state-owned enterprises were politically appointed.
In 2020, he estimated that there were between 6,000 and 7,200 commissioners and directors across all state-owned companies, including parent firms, subsidiaries, and BUMN-affiliated entities.
"Out of six thousand to seven thousand two hundred commissioners and directors of state-owned enterprises, in my opinion, they are all political appointees," said Adian in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
He argued that these positions were not publicly accessible, as no formal recruitment process or job vacancy announcements were available.
"There are no job vacancies (for commissioners). 'Vacancies at State-Owned Company A, need commissioners and directors. Come and apply.' None," he said.
Budiarti Utami Putri contributed to the writing of this article.
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