Experts: Danantara Must Be Free of Political Interests!
February 19, 2025
JAKARTA, iNews.id – President Prabowo Subianto plans to launch the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, or Danantara, on February 24, 2025. Several groups have urged that this new institution be truly clean, professional, and free from political interests.
National Economic Strategy observer Prof. Dr Murpin Josua Sembiring stated that to achieve this goal, this superholding must be staffed with individuals of integrity and free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN). This factor is crucial considering that Danantara will manage and optimise state assets through strategic investments.
“According to President Prabowo’s directive, those in Danantara should remain focused on their original intention, namely investment management for Indonesia’s economic progress. Therefore, this institution must be staffed with individuals with high competence in the investment and economic fields,” said Murpin when contacted on Wednesday (February 19, 2025).
The chairman of the East Java Province Indonesian Professors Association (DPD Pergubi) firmly rejected the direct involvement of politicians in the management of Danantara. If this institution is entangled in political interests, it will be difficult to achieve its intended mission.
According to him, the establishment of Danantara would be futile if old problems recurred. In fact, this superholding was truly intended as an agency that would become a new engine of Indonesian economic growth.
“If politicians interfere, this institution will only become a platform for the practice of political favours. This will hinder the achievement of the President’s grand vision, and I am certain that Indonesia will not progress if that happens,” he said.
Murpin emphasised that with proper management, Danantara is expected to make a significant contribution to Indonesia’s economic growth, with a target of reaching 8 per cent per year.
Furthermore, optimal investment is also expected to stabilise the rupiah exchange rate and strengthen the national economy.
Manages IDR 14,719 Trillion in Funds
As an investment management body, Danantara will allocate capital from natural resources and state assets to sustainable projects, prioritising non-APBN (State Budget) investments. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to optimising existing resources without burdening the state budget.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at the online World Government Summit in Dubai on Thursday (February 13, 2025), Prabowo stated that Danantara would be launched on February 24, 2025. This launch coincides with the completion of the revision of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Law.
Prabowo stated that the assets to be managed by this sovereign wealth fund (SWF) will reach US$900 billion, equivalent to IDR 14,719 trillion. Danantara’s initial funding is projected to reach US$20 billion, equivalent to IDR 327 trillion.
“I think this will be a transformative step. We plan to launch around 15 to 20 projects worth billions of dollars, which will create significant added value for our country,” Prabowo said.