Jakarta, March 7 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
submitted the name of Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo to the House of
Representatives (DPR) as a sole candidate for the Bank Indonesia (BI)
governorship to succeed outgoing Darmin Nasution.
On Tuesday night, the DPR's Commission XI on financial affairs decided
to accept Agus's sole nomination as the central bank governor, yet it
was still available if the president would add other candidates before
March 25, 2013.
Agus Martowardojo will have to undergo a fit-and-proper test in the
House of Representatives before he could assume the post. Yet the
correct figure who could take up his position as finance minister is now
under discussion.
Economist Dradjat Wibowo said there were a
number of figures who could succeed Agus Martowardojo. He among others
mentioned Gita Wirjawan, now trade minister, and Darmin Nastion, the
outgoing BI governor who would complete his term of office on May 23,
2013.
"I think one of the requirements is that a candidate
must have personal closeness to the Palace," Dradjat Wibowo, who is also
deputy chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), was quoted
recently by BritaPrima.com online as saying.
Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, who is also general chairman of
PAN, said that the figure who is expected to succeed Agus --if he
passed the fit-and-proper test by the House-- must have good knowledge
about macro economy.
He or she must have deep understanding of the macro economic and fiscal
fields. "He or she should be able to maintain financial stability and
understand macro economy because we are talking about macro assumption
in an effort to safeguard the stage budget," Hatta Rajasa said on
Wednesday.
To maintain macroeconomic stability, a minister should understand fiscal prudence.
The coordinating minister for economic affairs said that the other
criteria for the would-be finance minister was that the figure should
have integrity, mastery of financial affairs and ability to supervise
state revenues from the tax and money management sectors.
"The orientation of a finance minister should aim to increase state
revenues without necessarily creating problems or disturbing the tax
sector. He or she should be able to control deficit in the state
budget," Hatta noted.
After all, the country did not achieve its tax receipt target in 2012.
This year the government should push tax receipts so that development
projects could be financed.
He said that a finance minister should also be able to serve as state
treasurer. With this function, a minister should be able to manage state
debts and reduce the trade balance deficit. He or she should have the
ability to find cheap loans.
In the last several years, Indonesia has been experiencing a trade
deficit as a result of oil and gas import increase. The minister should
be able to control trade balance transactions so that the country's
trade balance would regain its surplus.
"I
think it should be the best person that should be named finance
minister. Now there are many best sons who could succeed Agus," added
Hatta.
However,
the chief economic minister did not mention any names who were supposed
to replace Agus Martowardojo if the finance minister was named Bank
Indonesia governor. This is because the replacement of the minister is
the prerogative rights of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Earlier,
the House Commission XI in a meeting on Tuesday night (March 5,2013),
decided to accept Agus Martowardojo a sole candidate to take a
fit-and-proper test for the central bank's governor post.
"We
accept Agus Martowardojo's nomination as a candidate for the BI
governorship," Achsanul Qosasih, the House's Commission XI member after
attending his mission meeting.
However, according to Achsanul, the House still gave a chance to the
government to add names of candidates, or provide alternative names to
be nominated for the BI post.
"We please the government to submit additional names before March 25,
2013. But if there is no more additional name, it would not pose a
problem, we will accept one candidate (to be tested) ," Achsanul said.
In the meantime, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo has expressed his
readiness to undergo a fit and proper test by the House of
Representatives (DPR) for central bank governorship.
"Under the current situation, the focus of the government and BI must
be put on how to maintain the financial system to remain stable and so I
accept the assignment well and will do my best in the test and hope the
result will be good," he said.
Agus said he had no hesitation to take the test despite his failure in
2008. He was also nominated for the same post in 2008 but failed.
"I am trusted by the president now to become a BI governor and so I
will carry it out as best as I could. It would now be up to the DPR to
accept me or not," he said.
Agus
said he was ready to continue reform efforts in BI, carry out BI's main
duties to control inflation, keep monetary conditions healthy and
improve harmonization of fiscal and monetary policies.
He said he was also ready to deal with the transfer of banking
supervision from BI to the Financial Service Authority (OJK) and
convince the role of the Indonesian monetary authority in international
forums and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the national
payment system.
Regarding
his successor, if he is named BI governor, Agus Martowardojo said he
believed the finance ministerial post would be filled by a professional
to continue bureaucratic reform efforts in the office.
"I am convinced the one to be named by the President later for the post
would be the one from professionals, technocrats or bureaucrats," he
said.
Before he is named BI governor, Agus will remain serving as finance
minister until he is officially named as Bank Indonesia governor, Hatta
Rajasa said.
"Before
the House of Representatives endorses him as the governor of Bank
Indonesia he will remain finance minister," Hatta said.***3***
(T.A014/f001 )
(T.A014/A/A. Abdussalam/F. Assegaf) 07-03-2013 14:46: |
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