After Erick Tohir was sworn in as Minister of Youth and Sports at the State Palace, replacing Dito Ariotedjo who was reshuffled, the seat of Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) has yet to be filled by a definitive minister. Along with Erick's inauguration, on Wednesday (17/09/2025), President Prabowo Subianto appointed Deputy Minister of SOEs and Chief Operation Officer of the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency or Danantara, Dony Oskaria, as acting Minister of SOEs.
The issue of merging the Ministry of SOEs with Danantara then surfaced after the President only appointed Dony as Minister of SOEs ad interim. Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, confirmed the discourse on the merger of the two institutions. However, Prasetyo said the merger was still under review.
Chairman of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Bob Hasan revealed that the Danantara Bill is urgently included in the list of national legislation programs (Prolegnas). According to him, the regulation is needed to tidy up the governance of BUMN, which currently overlaps with Danantara.
"Danantara is why it exists because the aim is to tidy up BUMN," Bob said at the Prolegnas meeting at Nusantara I Building, DPR RI, Thursday (18/9/2025).
Bob emphasized that Danantara must stand upright because the managerial structure of BUMN is still interrelated. He said the academic text of the Danantara Bill would be refined to clarify its legal basis.
"Now Danantara must stand tall, because we both know, politically and legally today the managerial structure of the SOEs is even closer to Danantara," said the legislator from the Gerindra faction.
However, not all members of Baleg agreed with the proposal. Member of Baleg DPR RI, Darmadi Durianto, admitted that he only learned of the Danantara Bill's inclusion in Prolegnas 2026 during the discussion. He also questioned the intent and purpose of the regulation proposed by Baleg.
In the preparation of Prolegnas, the Danantara Bill was listed in the long list of changes Number 78 as an official proposal of the Baleg DPR RI. "The discussion must be carried out carefully so as not to cause new overlaps in the management of BUMN," said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician.
Danantara Spokesperson Kania Sutisnawinata did not have much to say when asked for an explanation of the merger discourse. Kania only mentioned that Danantara's current position is in line with Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi's statement, which is still at the study stage.
According to Kania, it is not yet time for her party to reveal the official stance or details of the steps that will be taken. "I can't give a statement yet. Later if there are further developments," said the former Metro TV journalist when contacted on Tuesday (09/23/2025).
Don't be misguided
NEXT Indonesia Center Director Herry Gunawan believes that merging the Ministry of SOEs with Danantara is not the right way to go. He believes that it is better for the Ministry of SOEs to be dissolved, because the function of fostering and managing state-owned companies has been taken over by Danantara.
"In my opinion, it should not be merged, just dissolve the Ministry of SOEs," Herry said when contacted on Sunday, (21/09/2025).
Herry explained that the pattern of authority in Danantara is much different from that in the ministry. In the corporate model, each level - from managers to directors - has spending authority according to their respective value limits, and strategic decisions rest with the board of commissioners.
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of SOEs, the budget user authority is centered on an echelon one official who gets a direct mandate from the minister. This system difference, according to Herry, could be a major obstacle if the two institutions are forced to merge.
He also highlighted the incomparable remuneration system between ASN (state civil apparatus) at the ministry and professionals at Danantara. The difference in salaries and incentives, said Herry, has the potential to cause gaps if forced to be in one institution.
"The remuneration structure in Danantara follows corporate standards, while in the ministry it is regulated by the government, so the gap will be very large," he said.
Herry reminded that Law Number 1 Year 2025 has emphasized that SOEs are private institutions, no longer separated state assets. This means that state-owned companies should be subject to general regulations such as OJK, BI and the Ministry of Finance without the need for a special ministry.
According to Herry, practices in other countries show that the absence of a specialized ministry actually makes SOEs more efficient. He cited Singapore with Temasek and Malaysia with Khazanah. Both institutions are directly related to the Ministry of Finance.
"If the SOE ministry is dissolved, employees who have ASN status can be transferred to other institutions," Herry said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Export Companies Association Benny Soetrisno agreed that the Ministry of SOEs and Danantara should be merged. Because, at present, the role of the Ministry of SOEs has begun to be carried out by Danantara.
Since Danantara was formed, it has managed and consolidated state assets spread across large state-owned enterprises. Benny believes that Danantara can become Indonesia's new spirit in facing global challenges, creating new opportunities, and advancing national economic development.
"I strongly agree that the Ministry of SOEs and Danantara should be merged, made into one unit so that it is easy to control," said Benny when met at the SUAR Roundtable on Indonesian Migrant Workers at the JS Luwansa Hotel, Jakarta (18/9/2025).
Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Expert Council Danang Girindrawardana said that the issue of merging the Ministry of SOEs and Danantara should be a matter for the government. The main function of the Ministry of SOEs must be carried out optimally.
The Ministry of SOEs should make breakthroughs through restructuring to build a strong business ecosystem, enhance strategic digital and technological capabilities, optimize asset value, and develop quality human resources with a focus on sustainability, food security, energy and health.
