TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono was appointed as Acting Minister of Religious Affairs, replacing Suryadharma Ali. Ali resigned after the corruption Eradication Comission (KPK) named him as a suspect in the alleged Hajj fund embezzlement from 2012 to 2013.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially accepted the resignation of former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali. Ali submitted his resignation on Wednesday, May 28.
"The Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono, will be the Acting Minister of Religious Affairs ad interim," the president's spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said in a text message on Wednesday, May 28.
Agung briefly served as the Acting Minister of Health following the death of Endang Rahayu Sedianingsih. He was also the temporary replacement Andi Alifian Mallarangeng as Minister of Youth and Sports, after Andi was named as a suspect in the infamous Hambalang graft.
Agung will serve as Acting Minister of Religious Affairs until Yudhoyono appointed an official replacement for Suryadharma Ali.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS