Jokowi Appoints The Head Of Badanas As Acting Minister Of Agriculture

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi was appointed as Acting Minister of Agriculture (Mentan). (Between)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo appointed the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi as the Acting Minister of Agriculture (Mentan). This appointment is regarding Syahrul Yasin Limpo who chose to resign as Minister of Agriculture. I am facing a corruption case that ensnared the NasDem politician.

"The replacement is still Plt (implementing the task), namely Mr. Arief Prasetyo, Head of the Food Agency," Jokowi told reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday, October 6, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to Jokowi, the appointment of Arief Prasetyo as Acting Minister of Agriculture is to facilitate work coordination.

"To be more coordinative, it makes it easier because usually Bulog, Food Agency, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Trade always has to..., just consolidate to make it easier. That's in my opinion," said the President.

Jokowi said he had received Syahrul Yasin Limpo's resignation letter on Thursday, October 5 evening through Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.

"I have received it and this morning it has been followed up. I have signed it too," he added.

Syahrul Yasin Limpo on Thursday, October 5 evening submitted a letter of resignation to President Jokowi amid a case of alleged corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture which is being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The resignation letter was submitted to the President through Minister of State Secretary Pratikno at the Ministry of State Secretariat Office.

Syahrul, who is also the former Governor of South Sulawesi, arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday, October 4 evening, after reportedly "losing contact" amid the investigation into the alleged corruption case by the KPK.

On September 29, 2023, the KPK announced that it had raised the status of the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture to the investigation stage. The KPK has also named a number of parties as suspects in the case.

However, the anti-corruption agency has not been able to announce who the parties have been named as suspects because of the ongoing investigation and collection of evidence.

The official residence of Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo at Widya Chandra Complex, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was also searched on September 28, 2023. During the search, KPK investigators found evidence in the form of cash with a value of billions of rupiah.

In addition, KPK investigators also found 12 firearms that have now been handed over to Polda Metro Jaya for follow-up.