TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani has slammed the involvement of 15 ministers in the Jokowi-Ma’ruf National Campaign Team. Muzani said the minister should focus on running the state administration without being burdened by politics in the presidential election.
“A minister should not be beset by political matters in helping the president run the government,” Muzani said in the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, September 28.
Muzani explained the ministers had duties to provide services and ensure smoothness of governmental works. Their participation in the campaign team of a particular candidate, he added, might generate bias in political interests.
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A total of 15 ministers have joined the Jokowi coalition, viz. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto; Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani; Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo; Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly; Social Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita; Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo.
The others are Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi; Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri; Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, Cooperatives and Small Medium Enterprises Minister Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga; Land and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil; Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar; Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin; Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
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As stipulated in Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Election, ministers are allowed to participate in the campaign team. President, vice president, ministers, and regional heads should take a campaign leave during the campaign and are barred from using their positions and state facilities, except for security purposes.
However, Muzani opined the involvement of ministers and state officials in the campaign team was a matter of ethics. Therefore, the Prabowo-Sandiaga camp would not let regional heads take part in its campaigns.
BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI
