Pratikno Dismisses Claim That President Jokowi will Replace 18 Ministers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister/State Secretary Pratikno denied a claim that President Joko Widodo will replace 18 ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet.

"We are all shocked by a release stating that 18 ministers will be replaced. That is unfounded," Pratikno remarked on Saturday.

Chief of the Presidium of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) Neta S. Pane earlier confirmed to having received information that the president will replace 18 ministers after the replacement of Chief of the National Defense Forces Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

"It is not true if we will reshuffle (the cabinet). (It is untrue) that the president will conduct a major (cabinet) reshuffle since he has always instructed his ministers to focus on working, settling the crisis, and capitalizing on the momentum presented by the crisis to make a progressive leap in all fields," he stated.

Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet are channeling their focus on addressing the health and economic crises arising from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), he pointed out.

"They are all working hard, including ministers, the ranks and files of the cabinet and bureaucracies subordinated to them. We are also sentient of the extraordinary support from other state institutions, including the DPR (the House of Representatives),” Pratikno remarked.

All cabinet ministers along with the ranks and files of their ministries are paying unwavering attention on their tasks at hand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister/state secretary noted.

"That is what Mr President had told me. I also sought confirmation from the president over the issue yesterday," he revealed.

The IPW had earlier stated that 11 to 18 ministers of the cabinet will be replaced.

"I appeal to fellow ministers, who will allegedly be replaced, to focus on their respective tasks and establish synergy. At this moment, the people of Indonesia are pinning hopes on the government and its ranks and files and all components of the nation to work quickly, so we will soon emerge from the crisis," Pratikno noted.

Read also: Independence Day; Palace Calls for Flag Raising starting August 1

ANTARA