I Guard This Bank With My Life

Khairul Anam

TAHIR could not understand why his business kept getting hit by bad rumors. His name continues to be associated with the Asuransi Jiwasraya case, following suspicions of the involvement of Benny Tjokrosaputro, a business colleague and debtor of Bank Mayapada International. As Covid-19 hits Indonesia, the Supreme Audit Agency’s (BPK) audit results of the Financial Services Authority’s (OJK) 2017-2019 statement also put Mayapada in a corner. Even though the audit was targeted at OJK’s supervisory performance, the report revealed a number of alleged loan disbursement violations at Mayapada.

“It was just my luck to be hit by that issue. I even joked about it—maybe I should wash my bad luck off by taking a flower bath,” Tahir told Tempo’s Khairul Anam and Aisha Shaidra at Mayapada Tower 1 on Friday, July 10.

Tahir denied the accusations, which he said had triggered savings withdrawals by Mayapada customer. Tahir, Indonesia’s seventh richest man according to Forbes, also ensured he would not stand idle watching Mayapada’ shrinking liquidity. “I don’t want to leave customers with anger.”

Following BPK’s January audit on the OJK, which was revealed in March, had there been fund withdrawals at Mayapada?

Yes. Definitely, although I do not have the details. But it was quite significant. Although, we also received deposits. My family and I have a commitment. To date, the biggest depositors are my children, Rp1.5 trillion. Two weeks ago I placed a cash capital of Rp1 trillion. I’m fine with not having money. I got it from selling my possessions. I am guarding this bank with my life. 

What do you think about BPK’s audit result for the OJK, which mentioned seven banks, including Mayapada?

In my opinion, the BPK report was only representative of the hundreds of banks audited. Then there are these seven banks. I have no problem with the content, but more about the banks mentioned. Some of those banks have been in trouble for years. If they included my bank among that group, it means my bank is also bad. Then what strength do I have to avoid that? That’s why I raised the bank’s equity. I sold my possessions and borrowed money. I go around, you know. That’s the burden of being a banker.

But the audit also recorded OJK’s inquiry on Mayapada’s lending, which indicated violations of the maximum lending limit (BMPK) to four business groups, including yours.

That’s not true. Here’s the thing, business grouping is normal. The BMPK might happen. I gave US$100 million, and then suddenly the US dollar fell—causing the maximum amount to increase. The way out was to pay it all up or reduce the amount. The BMPK could happen every year. But I did not use that money. I can dispute that.

How much loan did Bank Mayapada give the Hanson International Group?

Only Rp200 billion. For the Saligading Group I don’t know how many hundred billions, as they are all properties. 

The BPK audit found loans to the Hanson Group, which is owned by Benny Tjokrosaputro, reached Rp12 trillion.

That’s not true. Am I crazy to lend Rp12 trillion. Perhaps that’s a business grouping or segmentation. For instance, property loans have reached a very high number, thus it must be reduced. You have to enter the medium, small, micro segment. My brains would have been damaged if I give trillions to just one group. Let alone Rp12 trillion, I would have been insane to give Rp2 or Rp3 trillion. And mind you that was not the BPK audit.

Well, the BPK audit report recorded the results of OJK’s inquiries on Mayapada.

The OJK also did not make that conclusion. It was not the BMPK. We have never discussed about that with the OJK. The OJK only said that “if the company is not too well, please pay it, raise capital.” And we have executed all of OJK’s findings in 2019. We did what they recommended. We have always been cooperative.

Was there also loans for the Mayapada Group?

They said “to groups with relations.” That’s a lot. The OJK never asked me to settle debts. I was asked to increase equities, to strengthen the bank’s capital. And I did that.