January 31, 2017 edition

Pertamina needs to resolve the convoluted problems plaguing its organization now, not later. The first internal conflict that led to the formation of groups at the top level of this state oil and gas company may have resulted in the second problem, the management's failure to prevent the recurrence of damages in its refineries.
The internal rift was believed to have been sparked by the management change carried out by the state-owned enterprise (SOE) ministry. The new structure limits the role of CEO Dwi Soetjipto, vesting instead bigger powers to his deputy, Ahmad Bambang. Ironically, as the second top man, he currently supervises the two directors, for processing and marketing, in addition to the Integrated Supply Chain, a fuel and crude oil import procurement unit, which will shortly join other units under his command.

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More Opinion articles in other editions

January 24, 2017 edition

If President Joko Widodo gives the green light to the Tobacco Bill submitted by the House of Representatives (DPR) last December, he will look like a turncoat deserting his own principles embodied in the Medium-term Development Plan for 2015-2019. One of the points is aimed at reducing smoking among the under-18 year olds, by 25 percent.
In 2015, teenage smokers made up of 7.2 percent of Indonesia's 255 million population. Jokowi aims to reduce that number to 4.5 percent in four years' time. Even without the Tobacco Bill, smoking among teens aged 10-14 years jumped from 0.7 percent in 2001 to 4.8 percent, according to the health ministry's primary health research carried out in 2013. The Bill sets very lax regulations on tobacco, particularly on its trade and control. The articles in the Bill also run counter to other existing laws. Advertisement and distribution of tobacco products, for example, overlap with articles in the health law and its derivative regulations.

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January 10, 2017 edition

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January 3, 2017 edition

The government must thoroughly investigate the questionable acquisition of AW101 helicopters. The case may go to international arbitration.

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December 27, 2016 edition

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must not slacken its efforts to investigate the bribery scandal allegedly involving military personnel in the Maritime Security Agency. These senior officers, still on active service, should be tried in a joint court. It would be strange if they were tried in a military court, because the corruption damaged the interests of the public, not the military.
The suspected involvement of these officers was uncovered during a sting operation carried out by KPK investigators two weeks ago. In this operation, investigators seized Rp2 billion in cash believed to be a bribe from Melati Techinfo Indonesia, the winning company of a tender to supply satellite monitoring equipment worth Rp200 billion. This was only the down-payment to several officials in the non-ministerial body. The total bribe promised by the company was estimated to be 7.5 percent of the project value, or Rp15 billion.

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December 20, 2016 edition

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December 13, 2016 edition

The Pidie tragedy proves that we remain vulnerable to earthquakes, an ever-looming specter. A long-term public education is critical.

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