TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has appointed former chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono, as an advisor in the transition team. In addition to Hendro, Jokowi will also appoint former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafi’I Maarif as one of the advisors in the team.
"I have been appointed as an advisor," Hendro said earlier today, at the transition office in Jakarta.
Hendro said Jokowi will consult with him about matters related to his expertise. But he refused to specify the advice provided to Jokowi.
"My background is intelligence. Why would I tell you?" Hendro said while pointing a journalist.
Responding to a question about a rumor saying he would be appointed as an expert staff for Jokowi’s cabinet, Hendro denied it right away.
"I am 70 years old. A lot of people are younger than me. At this age, I can only advise about something that I know and I’ve done before," Hendro said.
Jokowi established a transition team to discuss and elaborate Jokowi-JK's vision and mission. The team consists of experts from various backgrounds including Chief of Staff Rini M. Soemarno, Anies Baswedan, Andi Widjajanto, Hasto Krisyanto and Akbar Faisal.
ERWAN HERMAWAN