Refleksi : Lain kali Agus harus lebih rendah jongkok bin bongkok bila berhadapan dengan paduka yang mulia. Hehehehe
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/agus-seen-as-capable-but-untested-in-indonesias-political-arena/375965 May 19, 2010 Muhammad Al Azhari President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono congratulating Agus Martowardojo, the country's next finance minister, on Wednesday. Agus is currently president director of PT Bank Mandiri. (Rumgapres Photo) Agus Seen as Capable But Untested in Indonesia's Political Arena International and local business leaders on Wednesday gave Agus Martowardojo a preliminary vote of confidence, with most saying they believed he had the ability to be an effective finance minister and press forward with the president's reform agenda. However, they warned that Agus, currently president director of PT Bank Mandiri, was unproven in the political arena and would face difficult challenges. James Castle, a prominent American business consultant with CastleAsia, said Agus was "a good choice" likely to be welcomed by the international market because he is an accomplished, well-known banker. Castle said he believed Agus might continue the reforms begun at the ministry by his predecessor, and his lack of experience running a ministry could be overcome by his leadership abilities. "He can implement best practice management, performance reviews, and good accountability, which is pretty much the same as what he did in the banking sector," he said. Agus, 54, was appointed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday to replace Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who is leaving to take up a new post at the World Bank on June 1. Yudhoyono said Agus would be inaugurated today. Agus is a seasoned banker. He has led Mandiri, Indonesia's largest lender by assets, since May 2005, overseeing an 85 percent increase in net profit. He graduated from the University of Indonesia in 1984, two years before fellow student Sri Mulyani. Agus worked at Bank of America, PT Bank Niaga and PT Maharani Holdings before becoming chief executive of PT Bank Bumiputera in 1996, CEO of PT Bank Export Import Indonesia in 1998 and then head of PT Bank Permata from 2002 to 2005. He was nominated as a candidate for central bank governor in 2008, but he and the other candidate at the time, Raden Pardede, were both rejected by a parliament that appeared keen to flex its political muscle. Analysts and economists had considered both candidates suitable for the post. Joachim von Amsberg, the World Bank's country director for Indonesia, said Agus was likely a good choice to carry on the reform agenda. "We're confident that Agus Martowardojo will continue the bureaucratic reforms and other reforms started by Sri Mulyani," he said. Anton Gunawan, chief economist at PT Bank Danamon, said Agus was someone with the managerial skills to reform an institution such as the Finance Ministry. "He can continue the reform in the tax office. He is tough," Anton said, adding his positives outweighed his political and fiscal policy inexperience. Not everyone was pleased with the appointment, though. Sofjan Wanandi, chairman of he Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo), said Agus lacked the necessary experience in macroeconomics, and was unprepared for the rough political fighting ahead. "I'm also not sure about how he will handle the pressure from the legislature. Overall, he's good but he's not a fighter. Nevertheless, we all should give him a chance to prove his worth," he said. Yudhoyono also named Anny Ratnawati as deputy finance minister, a new position. Anny is known as a policy expert with close ties to Yudhoyono, having worked for him as a speechwriter and economic adviser during his first presidential bid in 2004. Anny has also worked as a technical adviser at the Finance Ministry for five years and was promoted to director general of budgeting at the ministry two years ago. She also serves as a commissioner at state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina. The Golkar Party had lobbied for her to replace Sri Mulyani. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
