August 16, 2025 | 04:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, known as Tom Lembong, has stated that his personal beliefs and stance on the country's situation will not change, even after receiving a pardon from President Prabowo Subianto.
When asked if he felt indebted to the President after being pardoned, Tom emphasized his professionalism and ethical principles. "I am a professional with ethics," he said during a visit to the Tempo office on Friday, August 15, 2025.
According to Tom, advocating for objectivity and justice is a necessity that he must uphold, regardless of whether he has been pardoned. He explained that if a policy is considered to be out of line with public opinion and justice, he will continue to push for it to be changed.
"So, I will continue to speak up. Hopefully, in a professional tone, I will be able to voice concerns that I feel are appropriate at the right time," he said.
Tom Lembong was a prominent supporter of Anies Baswedan in the 2024 Presidential Election and was a vocal critic of former President Joko Widodo's policies. On August 22, 2024, Tom participated in a demonstration in front of the DPR building, protesting the DPR's rushed discussion of the Regional Election Bill after the Constitutional Court's decision to change the candidacy threshold and the age of regional head candidates.
The protesters considered the DPR to be in defiance of the constitution by going against the Constitutional Court's final and binding decision. "This is a historic, critical moment. Our country is at a crossroads. We are determining the future not only for us, but also for our children, grandchildren, and the next generations," Tom said at the time.
Previously, Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and fined Rp750 million, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of default, after being found guilty of sugar import corruption between 2015 and 2016. However, President Prabowo granted him a pardon, which was approved by the DPR on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Editor’s Choice: 4 Key Points from Tom Lembong's Report to the Ombudsman
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