The appointment of the Minister of Trade for the 2015-2016 period Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong as a suspect in sugar import corruption by the Attorney General’s Office sparked polemics. Minister of Trade Budi Santoso also opened his voice to explain the sugar import mechanism implemented by the government.
“Now the rule is that there must be a commodity balance. After there is a commodity balance, it has been agreed at the Coordinating Ministry, how much is needed, the technical ministry sends the company to us, now we just have to import. So it’s not from us. “We import according to national needs, according to the commodity balance agreement,” said Budi to reporters, Jakarta, Sunday (3/11).
However, he was reluctant to explain the mechanism for implementing and approving imports before the new commodity balance comes into effect in mid-2022. “As long as there is a commodity balance, how much we need, how much we have to import, is in the commodity balance. It was held at the Coordinating Ministry (Economy). “We just have to publish it,” he said.
It was previously known that Thomas Lembong was named a suspect because he was suspected of providing a sugar import permit. This permit was granted even though in 2015 Indonesia experienced a sugar surplus as determined in the coordination meeting.
Tom Lembong was also considered wrong because he gave the permit to a private company with the initials PT AP. In fact, only state-owned enterprises are allowed to import GKM sugar. He is also suspected of approving PT PPI to collaborate with 9 companies to import GKM in 2016.
This import was carried out to meet the domestic sugar supply, which should have been imported in order to stabilize prices by importing white crystal sugar. (Z-11)
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**Interview with Minister of Trade Budi Santoso on Thomas Lembong’s Corruption Case**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Minister Budi Santoso. There’s been significant media attention regarding the recent developments involving former Trade Minister Thomas Lembong and the corruption investigation into sugar imports. Can you provide us with some context?
**Minister Budi Santoso**: Thank you for having me. Yes, the situation is indeed under scrutiny. Thomas Lembong was named a suspect in a corruption case related to sugar imports, which has raised serious concerns in the public domain. It’s essential to address the mechanisms that govern these imports to ensure transparency and accountability.
**Interviewer**: Can you explain the current sugar import mechanism deployed by the government? How does it work?
**Minister Budi Santoso**: Certainly. The sugar import mechanism centers on maintaining a commodity balance. This means that before imports can occur, we first assess how much sugar is required to meet domestic needs. This assessment is conducted through coordination with various ministries, including the Coordinating Ministry and the technical ministries involved.
**Interviewer**: There has been considerable controversy surrounding this case. What measures do you think are necessary to prevent corruption in such import processes?
**Minister Budi Santoso**: To prevent corruption, we must enhance transparency throughout the process. This includes clear guidelines on how decisions are made regarding import volumes and rigorous oversight by independent agencies. We are also looking into implementing digital systems that can track these transactions effectively.
**Interviewer**: Do you think this situation will affect public trust in the Ministry of Trade?
**Minister Budi Santoso**: It’s always difficult when issues of corruption arise. However, I believe that by taking swift and decisive action, we can begin to rebuild trust. Our focus will be on ensuring that this investigation is conducted fairly and transparently, and that all necessary reforms are put in place to protect the integrity of our processes.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your insights, Minister Santoso. It’s a challenging time, and we appreciate your commitment to addressing these issues head-on.
**Minister Budi Santoso**: Thank you. We will continue to prioritize integrity in our operations and work diligently to serve the interests of the Indonesian people.
