Indonesia’s Ahok bags top job at state energy giant Pertamina – is a return to politics next?
- Former Jakarta governor is named new president commissioner at oil and gas enterprise
- But talk in the capital is about whether the move signals a political comeback is in the making
Former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, best known as Ahok, has been named the new president commissioner of Indonesian state energy giant PT Pertamina, sparking speculation of a return to politics following his jailing in 2017 for blasphemy.
The Christian and ethnic Chinese politician, who was released in January after serving a controversial two-year term behind bars for insulting Islam, was officially awarded the position on Friday following days of rumour among Indonesia’s political elite.
He will replace outgoing president commissioner Tanri Abeng.
The appointment was met with mixed reaction among economists and analysts in Jakarta. Some praised the move, saying it would help weed out corruption at Pertamina, which as of March had assets worth at least US$65 billion.
“I think if Ahok is going to fit into a state-owned enterprise, he is going to be the top man, since I can’t see him working well with someone over him,” said Keith Loveard, an analyst at Concord Consulting. “[But it might be] difficult at one of the really big firms like Pertamina where a degree of industry knowledge is helpful.