GoTo distances Itself From Former Co-Founder Amidst Corruption Inquiry
Jakarta. Indonesian technology conglomerate GoTo Gojek tokopedia (GoTo) issued a statement Friday asserting that Nadiem Makarim, recently named a suspect in a corruption case, has held no managerial or operational role within the company since october 2019. The clarification comes as prosecutors investigate allegations of impropriety surrounding a Rp 9.3 trillion ($574 million) Chromebook procurement program during Makarim’s tenure as Indonesia’s education minister.
The case raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and corporate governance within Indonesia’s burgeoning tech sector, and underscores the government’s increased scrutiny of large-scale public projects. GoTo, a major player in the Indonesian digital economy, is keen to demonstrate its commitment to clarity and distance itself from the unfolding legal proceedings. The outcome of the investigation could impact public trust in both the government’s digitalization initiatives and the broader tech industry.
GoTo emphasized that Makarim, who co-founded ride-hailing platform Gojek prior to its merger with e-commerce giant Tokopedia, stepped down as President Commissioner shortly after accepting his cabinet position in October 2019. “He has not been a director, commissioner, or employee at Gojek – now known as Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa – as October 2019 and has had no involvement in GoTo’s operations or management since,” stated Ade Mulya, GoTo’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication.
Mulya further clarified that Makarim is not a controlling shareholder of the company and that GoTo’s operations have remained separate from his duties as a government minister, including the contested laptop procurement project. “As a public company, GoTo is committed to upholding good corporate governance principles with accountability and transparency in line with Indonesian law,” Mulya added.
The investigation centers on a national digitalization program intended to provide 1.2 million Chromebooks to schools in remote and underdeveloped regions. Prosecutors allege the program was flawed due to the devices’ reliance on stable internet access,which was unavailable in many of the targeted areas. Investigators estimate the resulting mismatch led to state losses of Rp 1.98 trillion ($122 million).
The allegations mark a significant setback for Makarim, who was previously celebrated as a pioneer of Indonesia’s digital economy after leading Gojek to become the nation’s first “decacorn,” achieving a valuation of $10 billion in 2019.