This journalist-turned-businessman shows eye-popping success story as if he were King Midas who turned everything to gold. He turned around small local newspaper, Jawa Post, to be national media mogul. He diversified the group’s business engulfing many areas including the owner of an independent power producer.
I don’t know where SBY got his inspiration or who whispered him to appoint Dahlan as then-troubled PLN new chief, but this time he was very right with his instinct.
At first many cast doubt on his ability to overcome electricity crisis on grounds of he is not PLN insider. He was plagued by demonstration from his own employees.
But within months the expectation proves wrong. Gifted with business acumen, he managed to solve many problems ranging from handling power shortage, enhancing service and promoting efficiency allowing many breakthroughs.
Now he enjoyed much respect from everyone from customers, president to infamous lawmakers.
As an outsider of PLN, he brings new perspective. For years, Indonesia sees power shortage. Dahlan is the first to define that the nub of the problem is not about money, but in fact about how to use resources effectively.
His trademark is to kill the power plant ‘eating’ the wrong ‘diet’ whereas sometimes the right ‘diet’ actually available. In Wamena, PLN used to hinge on diesel power which is costly shrugging off abundance hydro power. In Banjarmasin surrounded by coal also depend on expensive diesel power. This irrational nationwide practice leads to wasting money for years.
From him we know that there is no short of power in Java. The culprit is in distribution. Having changed purchasing system, out of the blue PLN hoards Rp. 2 trillion in cash. With this sizeable money, distribution problem is handled.
Despite his achievement, he is still grappling with Indonesian well-known red-tape such as he solved the eat-wrong-diet Semarang power plant. He has found the right diet, namely gas off Semarang coast. Petronas as the supplier and PLN have made a deal, but non technical problem arose. Both Petronas and PLN have no permit to build gas pipe from the well to Semarang. Facing this Achilles heel, he didn’t concede. He insists to make Semarang power plant closed and draw power from adjacent area. He denies any inefficiency.
As matter of fact, if Indonesia’s government agrees and supports him by allowing more domestic coal and gas for PLN, many rupiah will be saved and performance will be much enhanced.
From his experience, he also knows that Indonesia’s talents are ubiquitous. He finally knows that many of his brilliant staffs want PLN’s performance to be better. He sparks their creativity to solve their local problems. When PLN solved Gorontalo’s peak load, he got surprised that idea came from his staff graduated from University of Hasanudin. All he knows about that university is only student fighting.
Pak Dahlan Iskan’s quick success shows us that Indonesia can make big headway, if led by the right man.
I wonder what if Pak Dahlan takes the Pertamina’s helm. I think Pertamina will outdo Petronas in less than a year.
I wonder what if Pak Dahlan takes the Railways’ helm. I think Indonesia will be proud of its first double-track Shinkanzen-like train.
I wonder what if Pak Dahlan becomes Indonesia’s president. I think Indonesia will never send low-skilled migrant workers anymore, because a lot of decent jobs created here. Indonesia will never see a stupid suicide bomber anymore, because there is still ample heaven on earth to enjoy, rather than pursue imaginary nymph.
Few years ago, Pak Dahlan underwent liver transplantation in China. Given the fact that he managed to travel a lot during his first-year stint in PLN, the transplantation may considered success. Hopefully he is always in good health and continues serving our beloved country with his Midas’ touch.
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Reference:
http://dahlaniskan.wordpress.com/
1 comment:
Vote 1 for him become a president 2014
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