Cak Imin Sad and Anies allude to power regarding the Tom Lembong affair

Bisnis.comJAKARTA — Politician Anies Baswedan spoke about state power when responding to the naming of Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong as a suspect in sugar import corruption.

Anies initially mentioned Indonesia's position in the 1945 Constitution. He wanted to see if this country still applied the principle of the rule of law (Rule of law) or states based on power (power state).

“We want this country to prove that what is written in the Explanation of the Constitution of 1945 is still valid,” Anies said in a tweet on his official X account last Wednesday.

Anies and Tom Lembong have a close relationship. Tom is an important figure in Anies' campaign team during his bid for the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres).

Furthermore, when the two left the government office of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Tom was appointed by Anies as an independent commissioner of PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol Tbk.

In his statement shared via X platformAnies said he has been friends with Tom for almost 20 years. He called the former Minister of Commerce in the 7th President's Cabinet, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), a person of high integrity.

“Tom is a straight man and is not the type of person who likes to be adventurous. For this reason, during his long career in business and his short career in government, he has been respected, both in national and international level.

Anies was very surprised when he learned that Tom Lembong was a suspect. However, as a citizen, he respects the ongoing legal process.

“We believe that law enforcement and judicial authorities will conduct the process transparently and fairly. We will also continue to provide moral and other possible support to Tom,” Anies said.

Then, Anies sent a message to his friend. He asked Tom not to stop loving Indonesia and its people. The former chancellor of Paramadina University also stressed that he still believed in Tom.

“I still have faith in Tom, and our prayers and support will not stop,” he said.

Short answer from Cak Imin

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister (Menko) for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin, was saddened to learn that former Minister of Commerce (Mendag) Thomas Trikasih Lembong was named as a corruption suspect in under the 2015-2016 sugar import permit.

Thomas or Tom Lembong has a close relationship with Cak Imin. He was part of the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar national team (AMIN national team) during the 2024 presidential election.

“Yes, I am very sorry. I hope Mr. Tom will be patient, I hope he will be strong,” he told reporters when meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (30/ 10/2024).

Cak Imin only briefly responded to the question of naming the suspect Tom Lembong by the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung). He also did not comment further on whether there were allegations of criminalization in the court case involving Tom Lembong.

“I don't know [soal dugaan kriminalisasi]”, said the general chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Determination of suspect

For information, the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) has named Tom Lembong as one of the two suspects in the alleged corruption case involving the 2015-2016 sugar import permit. The case is suspected of causing state financial losses of around IDR 400 billion.

Investigators from the Attorney General's Jampidsus suspect that Tom gave a private company an assignment to import raw crystallized sugar, which then became white crystallized sugar.

Although the importation was intended to stabilize sugar prices which had by then skyrocketed due to shortages, Tom was suspected of violating a number of regulations.

“In fact, those who should import sugar for national needs in the context of price stability are state-owned enterprises appointed by the Minister of Commerce. It should also be white crystallized sugar, not raw crystallized sugar “, explained the Director of Investigations Jampidsus at the Attorney General's Office, Abdul Qohari, during a press conference, Tuesday (10/29/2024).

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