Ahok Visits Pertamina for First Time as Chief Commissioner
Jakarta. Former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama visited state-run oil company Pertamina's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday, shortly after he was officially appointed as the company's chief commissioner by State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.
A lone flower decoration from a resident to congratulate him welcomed Ahok near the lobby of the building when he arrived to meet with his predecessor Tanri Abeng.
"Mr. Tanri Abeng invited me here to discuss a few things. He also taught me many things [during our meeting]. I have a good relationship with him because his son and I had spent time together at the House of Representatives," Ahok told reporters after the meeting.
"He gave me documents to study, and we also discussed the handover ceremony," Ahok said.
Even though he has been officially appointed, Ahok will have to wait for an extraordinary shareholders' meeting before he could begin his new job.
Earlier in the morning, Ahok declined to respond when asked by reporters at the SOE Ministry headquarters about the alleged existence of an oil import syndicate inside Pertamina.
Ahok said as the chief commissioner he did not have any executive power. His role is to provide internal oversight on Pertamina's board of directors.
"I'm not the president director. Even if I know about it [the import syndicate], I'm not authorized to speak. My job is internal supervision," Ahok said.