Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as ahok, testified Tuesday in a corruption trial concerning crude oil management at IndonesiaS state-owned energy company, Pertamina. During his testimony, Ahok revealed significant disagreements with President Joko Widodo during his tenure as Chairman of Pertamina’s Board of Commissioners from 2019 to 2024, ultimately leading to his resignation. The central dispute revolved around the shifting authority to appoint directors, a matter Ahok brought directly to the President, voicing concerns about openness and oversight within the company.
JAKARTA — Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, revealed that his recommendations while serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners at Pertamina from 2019 to 2024 were at times rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The disclosure came during testimony in a corruption trial related to crude oil management at the state-owned energy company.
Ahok recounted a disagreement with President Widodo regarding the authority to appoint directors, which had shifted from the Board of Commissioners to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises. “Unfortunately, for the past two years, decisions on appointing directors were completely bypassed from the Board of Commissioners and went directly to the Minister of BUMN,” Ahok stated during the court proceedings on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Ahok was speaking as a witness in the case alleging corruption in the management of crude oil at Pertamina. He explained that he had voiced his concerns directly to President Widodo, stating, “If you truly want me to fix Pertamina, give me the position of Director, or not at all.”
Ahok further revealed that several of his proposals were rejected by President Widodo, leading to his eventual resignation. “When my proposals regarding subsidies and procurement processes were dismissed, I declared my resignation,” he affirmed. The case underscores the challenges of corporate governance within Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises.
Ahok Frankly States He Left Pertamina Due to Disagreement with Jokowi
According to Ahok, his motivation wasn’t personal gain or a desire for power, but rather a commitment to leaving a positive legacy at Pertamina. “If you don’t agree with me, even if you are the President, I will resign. That’s what I did,” he told the court.
Ahok Points to Corruption at Pertamina, Reminds of Importance of E-Catalog
Ignored for Two Years
Ahok also stated that his concerns about the appointment of directors being handled directly by the Minister of BUMN went unaddressed for a period of two years. He described a particularly frustrating incident early in his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
“I explained the situation to the court. I remember when I first became chairman, a director was suddenly removed by the holding company. I expressed my anger in a meeting, asking how the chairman could be unaware of a director being replaced by the minister,” Ahok said.
A corporate secretary then informed Ahok that the authority to appoint directors had been fully transferred to the Minister of BUMN. This revelation further angered Ahok.
