After Erick Tohir was inaugurated as Minister of Youth and Sports at the State Palace replacing Dito Ariotedjo who was affected by the reshuffle, the seat of the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) has not been filled by a definitive minister. Along with Erick's inauguration, on Wednesday (17/09/2025), President Prabowo Subianto appointed Deputy Minister of SOEs as well as Chief Operation Officer of the Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency or Danantara, Dony Oskaria, as the acting Minister of SOEs.

The issue of merging the Ministry of SOEs with Danantara then emerged after the President only appointed Dony as the ad interim Minister of SOEs. The Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, confirmed the discourse on the merger of the two institutions. However, Prasetyo said the merger is still in the process of being studied. 

Chairman of the DPR RI Legislation Body (Baleg) Bob Hasan revealed that the Danantara Bill urgently needs to be included in the list of national legislation programs (Prolegnas). According to him, the regulation is needed to tidy up the governance of SOEs which currently still overlap with Danantara.

“Danantara exists because its goal is to streamline SOEs,” said Bob in a Prolegnas meeting at the Nusantara I Building, DPR RI, Thursday (9/18/2025).

Bob emphasized that Danantara must stand firm because the managerial structure of SOEs is still interconnected. He said that the academic paper for the Danantara Bill would be refined to clarify its legal basis.

“Now Danantara must stand tall, because we all know that, in today's political and legal landscape, the managerial structure of state-owned enterprises is converging towards Danantara,” said the legislator from the Gerindra faction.

However, not all members of the National Legislation Body (Baleg) agreed with the proposal. A member of the DPR RI's Baleg, Darmadi Durianto, admitted that he only found out about the Danantara Bill's plan to be included in the 2026 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) during the discussion. He also questioned the purpose and objectives of the regulation proposed by Baleg.

In the preparation of the Prolegnas, the Danantara Bill is listed in the long list of amendment Number 78 as an official proposal from the DPR RI's Baleg. “The discussion must be carried out carefully so as not to create new overlaps in the management of state-owned enterprises,” said the politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Danantara Spokesperson Kania Sutisnawinata did not comment much when asked for an explanation regarding this merger discourse. Kania only mentioned Danantara's current position in line with the statement of Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, which is still in the study phase.

According to Kania, it is not yet the time for her to reveal the official stance or details of the steps to 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 (23/09/2025).

Don't go in the wrong direction

Director of NEXT Indonesia Center Herry Gunawan believes that merging the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises with Danantara is not the right way. He argues that it is better to dissolve the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, because the function of fostering and managing state-owned companies has already been taken over by Danantara.

“In my opinion, it is better not to merge, just dissolve the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises,” said Herry when contacted on Sunday, (21/09/2025).

Herry explained that the pattern of authority in Danantara is very different from that in the ministry. In the corporate model, each level – from manager to director – has the authority to spend according to their respective value limits, and strategic decisions are in the hands of the board of commissioners.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the authority to use the budget is centralized on echelon one officials who receive direct mandates from the minister. This difference in systems, according to Herry, could be a major obstacle if the two institutions are forced to merge.

He also highlighted the issue of unequal remuneration systems between civil servants (ASN) in the ministry and professionals in Danantara. This difference in salaries and incentives, said Herry, has the potential to create disparities if forced to be in one institution.

“The remuneration structure at 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 of 2025 has affirmed that state-owned enterprises are private institutions, no longer separated state assets. This means that state-owned companies should be subject to general regulations such as the OJK, BI, and the Ministry of Finance without the need for a special ministry. 

According to Herry, the practice in other countries shows that the absence of a special ministry actually makes state-owned enterprises more efficient. He cited Singapore with Temasek and Malaysia with Khazanah. Both institutions are directly related to the Ministry of Finance.

“If the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises is dissolved, employees with ASN status can be transferred to other institutions,” said Herry.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Indonesian Export Companies Association, Benny Soetrisno, agreed to merge the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and Danantara. Because, currently, the role of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises 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 State-Owned Enterprises and Danantara should be combined, 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.