Luhut Pandjaitan on Cabinet Reshuffle: I Don't Even Know My Fate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan was reluctant to provide further comment in light of the rumor of planned Cabinet reshuffle. He entrusted the replacement of Cabinet members to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“Ask about the reshuffle to President, I’m just his assistant. I don’t even know my fate, whether I’ll be retired or others,” said Luhut in his office, Wednesday, May 8.

Previously reported, the presidential spokesman Johan Budi Sapta Pribowo said President Jokowi would possibly reshuffle his Working Cabinet after Eid el-Fitr or lebaran, not during the holy month of Ramadan.

"No confirmation on that matter (reshuffle) until lebaran. It may take place sometime after lebaran," Johan Budi told Tempo, Wednesday, May 8.

Johan explained that Jokowi conducted reshuffle based on two reasons; the work performance of a minister, or legal cases involving them until suspect naming.

President Jokowi has three times reshuffled his Working Cabinet during his term thus far. The latest was in August 2018, Jokowi inaugurated Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita as Social Minister to replace Idrus Marham following the latter’s naming as a suspect in a corruption case.

Johan asserted that a Cabinet reshuffle could be done despite President Jokowi’s term would end in five months. “If the President is willing to replace a minister, [he] will not think whether his first term of government is left for a year or a month. No consideration on the matter,” he said.

CAESAR AKBAR | EGI ADYATAMA

Read: Jokowi Spokesman Says Cabinet Reshuffle to Take Place after Eid