Jokowi Appoints Idrus Marham to Replace Social Minister Khofifah
17 January 2018 11:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo finally found a substitute for former Social Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa who run for the election as East Java Governor 2018. Her substitute is Idrus Marham, Secretary General of Golkar Party.
"(The President) appointed Idrus Marham as the Social Minister," said Military Marshal Young Secretary Trisno Hendardi read out President Joko Widodo's decision to announce a new Social Minister at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, January 17.
Before elected by President Jokowi as the new Social Minister, Idrus has been a Golkar politician. Some time ago, for example, the man who was born in Pinrang Sulawesi once served as the Executive Officer of Golkar Party Chairman, he replaced Setya Novanto who became the defendant of E-KTP corruption case. He served shortly after being replaced by Airlangga Hartarto Industry Minister who was elected to be the Golkar General Chairman.
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Idrus also served as Secretary-General by the choice of former Chairman Aburizal Bakrie. He served long enough for the position, from 2009 until 2017, until the end of Setya Novanto’s leadership period. On the other hand, he also became the first Golkar Secretary-General as a civil, not military.
Outside the stewardship of Golkar Party, he had been a member of the People's Consultative Assembly for one period (1997-1999) and three periods of being a member of the People’s Representative Council. The periods are 1999-2004, 2004-2009, and 2009-2014. In the early period of 2009-2014, Idrus entered as a member of the Century Questionnaire Special Committee which the capacity is questionable.
The appointment of Idrus Marham also proves the news that the Social Minister's position will be filled with people who have links with Nahdlatul Ulama. In the past, Idrus Marham was active in a number of Muslim organizations affiliated with NU such as Indonesian Muslim Students, Nahdlatul Ulama Student Association, and the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement. He is also known to be close to the religious leaders.
ISTMAN MUSAHARUN PRAMADIBA
