TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo reportedly will announce the cabinet reshuffling today, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. A number of ministers of which will be replaced had been called to come to the State Palace on Tuesday night, July 26, 2016.
According to Tempo`s observation until late at night, those ministers were Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, and Minister Sofyan Djalil.
Tempo also saw Industry Minister Saleh Husin and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, entered the Palace alternately on Tuesday night.
The ministers went inside the Palace not from the usual front entrance, instead they went through the side door from the State Guesthouse direction, guarded heavily by the Presidential Security Force members. The ministers also tried to avoid the reporters.
Before meeting with the ministers, President Joko Widodo met Vice President Jusuf Kalla first. However, Jusuf Kalla declined to explain on the matter.
In the afternoon, State Secretary Pratikno confirmed that the President indeed called on a number of ministers for him to see. According to him, the summon was part of the Presidential work. "It is a part of the many President`s agenda," explained Pratikno.
Pratikno declined to answer whether the summon was related to the cabinet reshuffle or not. "That is the President's business. It will be announced soon. If it is already ascertained then it will be announce for sure," said Pratikno.
However, added Pratikno, President Jokowi will hold the cabinet meeting today, but he did not clarify whether or not there will be an announcement for new ministers.
Based on Tempo`s observation, the President left the State Palace at 22:30 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). After that, rumors about some names that will become the new ministers began to show up. Those names came from ministers who handled economic sector, politics, legal, public security and prosperity.
Among the names are old names that are shifting positions. They are Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who will be shifting into Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs position which currently seated by Rizal Ramli. Rizal Ramli will be deprived of his position as the Maritime Affairs Coordinating Minister. Luhut`s position will be replaced by Hanura chairman Wiranto.
The Urban, Rural Development and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar`s position will be replaced by his colleague, Eko Putro. And then the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi`s position will be replaced by Asman Abnur from PAN party. A new name had emerged at the National Education Ministry, replacing Anies Baswedan, he is the former rector of Muhammadiyah Malang University, DR. Muhajir.
A new name also emerged at the Economic Affairs Ministry. Former Minister Sri Mulyani will become the Finance Minister again replacing Bambang Brodjonegoro. Bambang Brodjonegoro will be shifting to the position of the Minister for National Development Planning, replacing Sofyan Djalil. Sofyan Djalil`s position shifted into the Minister of Agrarian and Spatial, replacing Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.
In the Industry and Trade sector, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong will be shifted to become the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, previously seated by Franky Sibarani. The Trade Minister position will be taken by Enggartiasto Lukito, a NasDem politician. Franky Sibarani hoimself got a new position as the Deputy Minister of Industry, accompanying the new Industry Minister, Airlangga Hartarto, who comes from Golkar party. Airlangga repalces Saleh Husin who comes from Hanura party.
In the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the name of Candra Tahar emerged. Candra will replace Sudirman Said, and the name of Budi Karya Sumadi will replace Ignasius Jonan`s position as the Minister of Transportation.
WDA | ANANDA TERESIA
