TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo is scheduled to announce cabinet reshuffle today. Some sources in the government told Tempo that the President would reshuffle his cabinet ministers in several sectors, namely economy, politics, legal, security and social welfare.
The President had summoned a number of minister Tuesday evening to the State Palace. The agenda was to discuss internal affairs, instead of holding a limited meeting or cabinet hearing. The President summoned several ministers, namely Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chirsnandi, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, National Development Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, Industry Minister Saleh Husin, and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan.
“They have been summoned in relation to the [cabinet] reshuffle. They were notified Tuesday evening,” the source told Tempo Tuesdayevening, July 26, 2016.
The source said that the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan would become the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, replacing Rizal Ramli. Rizal Ramli was said to have been dismissed from his post. Luhut would be replaced by the People’s Consciousness Party (Hanura) chairman Wiranto.
Marwan Jafar, the Village, Underdeveloped Regions and Transmigration Minister, would be dismissed. Asman Abur would be given a seat of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister, replacing Yuddy Chirsnandi. Anies Baswedan would be replaced by former Malang Muhammadiyah University president DR. Muhajir as the National Education Minister.
A huge change would be made in the economic sector. Bambang Brodjonegoro would be replaced by former World Bank leader Sri Mulyani Indrawati as Finance Minister. Bambang Brodjonegoro himself would replace Sofyan Djalil as the National Development Planning Minister. Sofyan would be given the post of Agriculture and Spatial Planning Minister, replacing Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.
Changes would also be made in industry and trade sector. Trade Minister Thomas Lembong would be given the post of the Investment Coordinating Board chairman, replacing Franky Sibarani. The Trade Minister post would be taken by the National Democrat (NasDem) Party politician, Enggartiasto Lukito. Franky Sibarani would be given a new post of Deputy Industry Minister, accompanying the new Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto from Golkar Party. Airlangga would be replaced by Saleh Husin from Hanura.
Sudirman Said would also be replaced from his post of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister. The President would replace him with Chandra Tahar, an academician. Transportation Minister would also be dismissed, replaced with Budi Karya Sumadi.
The State Palace officials had yet to comment on the cabinet reshuffle. State Secretary Minister Pratikno, however, said that the President would eventually announce it.
“It will be decided by the President. It will be announced, an announcement will be made. It will be announced once it’s been confirmed,” Pratikno said.
The Presidential special staff for communication Johan Budi Sapto Pribowo also said that cabinet reshuffle is a presidential prerogative.
ANANDA TERESIA | BAGUS PRASETIYO
