Community Elements Can Play an Active Role in Danantara Management

By: Dhita Karuniawati )*

President Prabowo Subianto’s government has again made an innovative policy oriented towards the progress of the nation, namely the establishment of the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara). The establishment of BPI Danantara is a strategic step by the government in optimizing the management of state assets and encouraging national economic growth. As an institution that manages the country’s strategic investments, BPI Danantara has an important role in achieving the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045. However, the success of this institution does not only depend on the government and its management, but also requires active participation from various elements of society.

The Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara) was officially established after the Plenary Meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives ratified the Draft Law on State-Owned Enterprises (RUU BUMN) into Law. The bill is the third amendment to the previous law, namely Law Number 19 of 2003 concerning BUMN. One of the points included in this policy is the establishment and formation of BPI Danantara in order to optimize the management of BUMN dividends.

Danantara is scheduled to be launched by President Prabowo Subianto on February 24, 2025. The presence of BPI Danantara is expected to strengthen the BUMN sector while supporting more stable and sustainable national economic growth.

BPI Danantara was formed with the aim of consolidating state assets that were previously spread across various State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and other institutions. This institution is expected to become a superholding that manages state investments professionally and transparently, similar to the role of Temasek Holdings in Singapore. With centralized management, BPI Danantara is expected to be able to increase efficiency, attract foreign investment, and strengthen Indonesia’s economic competitiveness on the global stage.

President Prabowo Subianto invited all former Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, such as the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), and the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to participate in supervising the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara). In addition, the President also asked religious-based community organizations (Ormas), such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) to participate in supervising the management of state wealth funds in Danantara.

Public participation in the management of BPI Danantara can be realized in various ways, including supervision and transparency; participation in investment; financial education and literacy; and policy advocacy.

The Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) Gomar Gultom, welcomed the establishment of the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara). This agency is a breakthrough in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of state wealth management.

Gomar said that Danantara could be a solution to coordinate various scattered BUMN projects, so that more integrated and targeted collaboration could be created. The formation of Danantara is a very good step. With more coordinated management, scattered BUMN projects can be carried out with complete and more efficient collaboration.

However, with the large value of the assets to be managed, supervision of Danantara must be carried out very strictly. Assets of this size certainly require transparent and independent supervision. The people who are given the task of supervising must be those who do not have personal, group, or momentary interests.

Independent supervision and free from political or group interests is the main requirement for the purpose of establishing Danantara. This is to optimize the country’s potential without ignoring the principle of social justice, so that its goals can be achieved optimally.

In the same vein, the Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah Anwar Abbas also conveyed the importance of supervision involving religious mass organizations. The involvement of religious mass organizations in the supervision of Danantara should be welcomed.

The presence of religious mass organizations under Danantara’s supervision is expected to maintain the values ​​contained in Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and prevent the management of the country’s economy from the influence of capitalism which can worsen socio-economic disparities.

Anwar said we want this country to progress, but not by imitating the European, American, or Chinese models. We want to progress with our identity as a religious and cultured nation.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked for support from various parties, both domestic and foreign, to support the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BP Danantara).