Angry Speech by Jokowi; Indikator Politik: Signalling a Reshuffle

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi on Sunday argues that there is an alternative motive behind the video that saw President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo lashing out on his state-ministers in a plenary meeting on June 18. 

The 10-minute plenary video documentation was only released on June 28, a full 10-days after it happened. 

“Clearly this is not a coincidence, but there might have been on purpose to remind internal Cabinet members that ‘reshuffle’ option is not without any weight,” said Burhanuddin to Tempo on Sunday. 

During the plenary on June 18, President Jokowi’s words somewhat represented his frustration as he claims not all state ministers have a unified sense of crisis for Indonesia’s COVID-19 crisis. Jokowi also alleges that there had been no significant progress made by state-ministers in overcoming the pandemic. 

The president warned that he will disband state agencies or reshuffle his Cabinet if necessary. 

“He could be testing the water to see the public reaction if a reshuffle actually happens,” said Burhanuddin who asserts that Jokowi’s message was delivered. However, he regrets that the president chose to act in such a firm manner only after the Indonesian public felt the same way the president did.

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EGI ADYATAMA