Fundamental Mistake Of President Jokowi's Three Trade Ministers: Lack Of Focus On Work
JAKARTA - The activity of the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) when distributing free cooking oil to residents in Lampung caused a stir. While sharing, Zulhas campaigned for his daughter, Futri Zulya Savitri, who is likely to run as the PAN legislative candidate for the Lampung Regional Election.
In the video, Zulhas can be seen interacting with the residents present.
“Women here say they have cheap Minyakita (cooking oil brand) right? How much were you told to buy?” asked Zulkifli Hasan.
"Ten thousand," replied the resident.
"Ten thousand for it? Two liters. Have you brought ten thousand? Keep the money. Ten thousand will be paid by Futri. That's Futri. Give the money, love, give it to the host. But choose Futri later, okay? If you choose Futri, then every two months there will be something like this," said Zulhas.
It's not even been one month since he was appointed as minister, Zulhas is already 'naughty'. Constitutional Law expert Refly Harun assumes this is a behavior that has the potential to violate ethics. Has a tendency to abuse office.
"The regional election is still in 2024. It means that he came with state facilities, but for personal interests," Refly said through his Youtube account, Monday (11/7).
However, the Deputy Chairperson of PAN, Viva Yoga Mauladi, denied this. Viva assumed that Zulkifli Hasan as the General Chair of PAN was legitimate to review party events. After all, the event in the video was held on a Saturday.
“Civil Servant employees in the government are on holiday. It's not a government or ministry event, it's a party event," said Viva.
Regarding Minyakita, which is a cooking oil brand for the Ministry of Trade program, which is distributed, Viva claims that Futri has bought it.
"Mr. Zulkifli Hasan certainly understands and knows the signs and laws and regulations. There will be no abuse of power, abuse of power as a minister," he said, Tuesday (12/7).
President Jokowi remains inflamed. Jokowi reminded Zulhas to always remember his position as minister and to continue to focus on his work.
"If the trade minister is the most important, it's like what I was tasked with yesterday, how to lower the price of cooking oil to 14 thousand or below 14 thousand. The most important thing is my job," said Jokowi at Sukamandi Market, Subang, West Java, Tuesday (12/7).
President Jokowi is currently focusing on observing the availability of food and energy supplies. During his working visits to other regions, the President often takes the time to visit traditional markets to check the availability of goods and price ranges.
“I also checked the main cooking oil, what we are checking is bulk oil, right? "Never run to premium packaged oil, what we check is bulk cooking oil so that the price is at 14 thousand or below," said President Jokowi.
President Jokowi asked all ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet to focus on their work, especially ministers in the energy and food sectors. The President also asked that the focus of the ministers is not divided.
Muhammad Lutfi's Slowness
Not only Zulkifli Hasan, but the previous Minister of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi, had also acted. Lutfi is considered too silent regarding the increase in cooking oil prices last March. There has never been a report to the president's desk even though the price increase has been going on for four months.
"The price of cooking oil has increased for 4 months, there is no explanation, why is this happening?" President Jokowi said in a plenary cabinet meeting uploaded to the official Youtube account of the presidential secretariat, March 2022.
Jokowi has emphasized that his ministers have a sense of crisis. Must not be silent and must be able to explain everything that happened to the people.
"It should be told to the people, we have empathy, you know," continued Jokowi.
Moreover, in a state of crisis recovery. The policies taken must be appropriate. Must be sensitive to people's difficulties.
"Don't let us be seen by the community as not doing anything. There is no statement, there is no communication. I ask that those related to basic needs be formulated properly, not only cooking oil. One by one, what kind of rice will be, what kind of soybeans will be, what kind of wheat will it be. If we are all silent, there is no statement, be careful, we will be considered as doing nothing," explained Jokowi.
The same is the case with the Minister of Trade of the United Indonesia Cabinet II, Gita Wiryawan. He had also been 'sprayed' by President Jokowi for throwing the responsibility for raising beef prices to each other with the then Minister of Agriculture, Suswono.