Corruption Suspect Edhy, Can Jokowi Trigger Ministerial Reshuffle?

JAKARTA - Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Edhy Prabowo, is officially detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission after being named a suspect in the corruption case in the export of lobster or fry.

Edhy Prabowo stated that he was ready to take responsibility in the alleged corruption case of lobster seeds or fry. Edhy Prabowo also stated that he would resign from his post of minister in the Advanced Indonesia cabinet.

"I apologize to Mr. President. Saua has betrayed his trust. Later I will excuse myself from serving as minister and I am sure the process is already underway," said Edhy Prabowo at the KPK building, Thursday, November 26 in the morning.

President Joko Widodo also opened his voice regarding the arrest of Edhy Prabowo by the KPK. The former governor of DKI emphasized that he respects the ongoing legal process. No word has yet been made regarding the change in the position of Minister of KKP.

Jokowi also does not want the government to intervene in Edhy's investigation regarding the alleged corruption in the export of lobster seeds.

"Of course, we respect the legal process that is currently underway at the KPK. We respect it," said Jokowi in a YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat, Wednesday, November 25.

Jokowi then emphasized that he believed that the KPK would work professionally. "I believe that the KPK works transparently, openly, professionally. The government consistently supports efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption," he said.

In the meantime, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was appointed as the interim Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries replacing Edhy Prabowo. Luhut's appointment as the ad interim KP Minister was based on a letter signed by the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno, Wednesday, November 25, evening.

Edhy's position, which was plunged into allegations of corruption, has raised the issue of a reshuffle of the line ministries which Jokowi had previously teased.

The reshuffle issue initially emerged through Jokowi's threat during the Plenary Cabinet Session on June 18. At that time, Jokowi mentioned the performance of a number of his ministers who were considered mediocre in the midst of a crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, Jokowi again teased his minister in a limited meeting on July 7. Many of Jokowi's subordinate institutions have huge budgets, but it turns out that they are 'stingy' in ministerial spending for the sake of handling COVID-19.

Seeing the reshuffle issue that had surfaced, could Edhy's arrest increase Jokowi's impetus to immediately reshuffle the cabinet?

According to a political observer from Al-Azhar University Ujang Komarudin, it is unlikely that Jokowi will again threaten to reshuffle his ministers. Because, the last time, Jokowi has issued a statement of praise for the performance of his ranks.

In a limited meeting on the performance report of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery. In the opening of the closed meeting, Jokowi said that the handling of COVID-19 and the recovery of the economy affected by the pandemic had gradually been good.

"The president did issue the reshuffle issue, but a few days ago he issued a statement that the performance of his ranks was good. That indicated that Jokowi would not reshuffle. So, Edhy Prabowo could be replaced," Ujang told VOI.

Ujang said that the reshuffle could create new problems in governance. Because, at this time the government still cannot control the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the problems facing FPI leader Muhammad Rizieq Shihab.

"If the reshuffle, it could add to the noise. When the government has a Habib Rizieq problem and a pandemic problem. So, the president's last statement indicates that it looks like the reshuffle will not happen because he said the minister's performance is good," said Ujang.