Agus Martowardojo: Dedicated to work

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 05/24/2010 1:24 PM

Indonesian Finance Minister Agus Dermawan Wintarto Martowardjojo
(JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

When Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced her resignation from the post of finance minister, many Indonesians worried that her shoes would be very hard to fill.

However, Agus Dermawan Wintarto Martowardojo appears to have cleared all doubts by assuring Indonesians he will pursue the Finance Ministry's reform agenda.

"I will make civil servants proud of their corps, and ensure they perform their duties with dedication," said the newly appointed finance minister.

Agus also said he would increase tax collection by registering more taxpayers and creating a healthy business climate to generate more tax revenue.

Will he target tax evaders? "I will learn about them first," he said.

Importantly, he added he would liaise with all stakeholders, including the House of Representatives and non-profit agencies, to gain their support.

We all know Agus for his widely respected skills as a banker. He was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Jan. 24, 1956. After graduating from University of Indonesia's School of Economics, Jakarta, in 1984, he became an international loan officer at the Bank of America NT & SA.

In 1986, he moved to Bank Niaga, where he was later appointed vice president and the head of the corporate banking group. From 1995 to 1998, he became the president director of Bumiputera Bank and PT Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia. Agus first joined Bank Mandiri in 1999 as director, and was recently elected for a second term as the president director.

But Agus is more than just a high achieving bank executive, as one may conclude from his impressive curriculum vitae. Although, when asked about Agus' hobby, his driver immediately answered, "Working!"

Tukyo shot to fame for being the first person to congratulate Agus on his new appointment as finance minister. He described Agus as a hard-working person who always kept to his schedule. "Every morning, I will prepare his breakfast, which he will have in the car," the Solo born driver said, adding that during his time at Mandiri, Agus usually worked until two or three in the morning.

"I remember once he even worked until 4.30 a.m.," Tukyo said.

On the other hand, despite Agus' tight schedule, he always has time for his family.

"After coming back from his work, Pak Agus will always greet his family first," said Tukyo, who has now been working for Agus for seven years.

Family is definitely one of Agus' main priorities, with his sons being his main investment. He usually spends his weekends with his family, watching movies or going to the sports club.

"Even though I am always busy, I still have a good quality of life and enough time for my family," said Agus in January 2008, as quoted by SWA magazine. His eldest son, Adri Prasetyo, 24, is now working in Jakarta, while his youngest, Aswin Dwiyanto, 18, is currently studying in Australia.

When interacting with his sons, quality was more important than quantity, he once said. "My sons also get much parental advice from their mother," Agus said.

He believes in teaching them about discipline. "They need to report their monthly spending to me, or I will stop sending them money," he said.

To maintain balance in his life, Agus loves to listen to popular and classical music, read books on management or biographies and watch movies. "I like Harrison Ford and Robert de Niro," he said.

Agus once remarked he had very much been inspired by own father, a state government official who was posted to the Netherlands and the UK.

"My father was a man of high integrity and a dedicated worker, I've observed and learnt from him since I was a child, and I think it was very character building," he said.

Many might not know Agus has a good sense of humor too, Tukyo added.

"Pak Agus likes to joke by startling me when I am not concentrating, for example," the 55-year-old said.

Does the man have any faults? He probably does. Many, for instance, are concerned with Agus' appointment as a finance minister, doubting his ability as a macro-economic manager.

However, Aviliani, an economist at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, said Agus had two advantages. First, both the international community and investors knew him well. Second, his vast experience as a banker gave him great insider knowledge on problems in the real sector. "In conclusion, his duet with Anny Ratnawati is the most ideal and the most deserving option," she said.

Meanwhile economist Pande Raja Silalahi warned The Jakarta Post that Agus would probably need time to learn his new role as finance minister.

"The deputy is usually an internal appointment, while the leader comes from the outside. Therefore, I can see there will be a learning process. I believe that Vice President Boediono will play a more active role until the market accepts Agus," he said.

Interestingly, Golkar Party's Ade Komarudin said he regarded Agus as one of the best professionals to replace Mulyani for the job.

Concurring with this view is chief economist of Mandiri Sekuritas Destry Damayanti, one of Mandiri's subsidiaries, who told the Post that Agus' leadership was very prominent. "His concerns about the company's subsidiaries have never been questioned," Destry said.

Agus has also been characterized as responsive, by none other than chairman of the House budget committee, Harry Azhar Azis. Harry recalls a time when he complained to Agus - who was president director of Mandiri at the time - about the lack of Mandiri ATMs in his hometown of Natuna.

"Immediately after our talk, Agus opened an ATM machine and an outlet in Natuna," he said.

The progress made by Bank Mandiri under Agus' leadership are a testament to his good mana-gerial skills, Harry added. "God willing, he could be a good finance minister." (not)

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono congratulating Agus Martowardojo, the country’s next finance minister, on Wednesday. Agus is currently president director of PT Bank Mandiri. (Rumgapres Photo)