The Ministry Should Not Become An 'ATM' For Political Parties, Suggestions For Jokowi To Reshuffle

JAKARTA - It is rumored that President Joko Widodo will overhaul or reshuffle the ministers in the Advanced Indonesia cabinet in the near future. Then who will Jokowi dismantle?

Jokowi is advised to increase the number of ministers from professional circles, not from political parties. The goal is so that the Forward Indonesia Cabinet which he leads will not be held hostage by political parties.

"If we want to be objective. We will increase the number of ministers from professional circles. So that the cabinet is not held hostage by political parties. And so that ministries do not become" ATMs "for parties," said a political observer from Al Azhar Indonesia University (UAI), Ujang Komarudin told VOI. Monday, December 21st.

But unfortunately, he said, based on previous experience, it was very difficult to add ministers from professional circles. Usually the ones who increase are the ministers from the political parties.

"We still remember in the first volume of Jokowi's cabinet, when Andrinof Chaniago's reshuffle from professionals was thrown out of the cabinet and replaced by party people," he said.

The reshuffle issue arose after two Jokowi ministers stumbled into a corruption case. They are, Edhy Prabowo, who became a KPK suspect for accepting a bribe for the export license of fry when he was minister of Marine and Fisheries.

Then, Juliari Batubara, who became a suspect for accepting bribes, quoted social assistance funds for poor people affected by COVID-19.

According to Ujang, these two ministry posts would not be given to professionals. But to political parties.

"The opportunity for a minister to be professional remains. However, it is very small. The probability is very small. The possibility of the 2 ministerial posts is small. Because the two ministries are rationed by political parties," said Ujang.

The reason, said Ujang, was that Jokowi would protect the government coalition that had already been formed. So, those who will be appointed as ministers will come from PDIP and Gerindra.

But if the prediction doesn't happen, Ujang said there are other possibilities Jokowi will do during the reshuffle. Later, candidates from the Gerindra party will be placed as ministers in other sectors. Thus, it does not change the 2 seat ministerial quota.

"The worst thing is that Gerindra ministers' quota at the KKP is also shifted to another ministry. However, it does not reduce the two ministers from Gerindra," he said.