Sri Mulyani's Request To Remove MPR Is Unethical, Observer: Think Mature, Don't Be Selfish

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr

JAKARTA - The request from the leadership of the MPR RI to remove the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani from her position has become a public spotlight. Because, the reason is only because Sri Mulyani did not fulfill the invitation twice. Also, it was mentioned because the MPR budget was often cut. Political observer from Indonesia's Al Azhar University Andriadi Achmad assessed that the MPR leadership's request was unethical and beyond its authority. "It is unethical for the leadership of the MPR to publicly ask the president to fire one of his ministers in the second working Indonesian cabinet, the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani," Andriadi told VOI, Friday, December 3. "The problem is what and what substance is the recommendation conveyed. It must be clear what is recommended, especially the MPR as one of the high state institutions," he continued.

According to Andriadi, if the problem is because Sri Mulyani is not present and is represented by the deputy minister at the budget meeting at the MPR RI, then it is recommended to be fired, then the MPR leadership's actions are really not substantial. "Try to think more maturely for the benefit of the nation and state. Don't just worry about small issues, then baper and as if they are not appreciated. This recommendation is very counterproductive," he said.

The Executive Director of the Nusantara Institute PolCom SRC then explained, based on the Book of Work Plans and Budgets of Ministries and Institutions for 2021, the MPR budget was initially allocated Rp. 750.9 billion. This number increased compared to 2020, which was IDR 576.1 billion.

However, this amount was ultimately cut to reallocate the budget to other institutions for various burdens due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this cut, the budget allocation for the MPR will be IDR 695.7 billion in 2022.

"In the future, we hope that the leaders of our nation will not be selfish with each other. We need concern and exemplary and sacrifice for the interests of the nation and state. As we know that our nation is currently not doing well, there are many big problems that need to be addressed. resolved," said Andriadi.

Regarding the removal or dismissal of ministers, Andriadi reminded that it was entirely up to President Joko Widodo.

"It is the president's prerogative to dismiss and appoint his ministers, of course with performance considerations," he said. Previously, the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani Indrawati had opened her voice regarding the complaint from the MPR RI leadership regarding her absence from the invitation to the meeting to discuss the MPR budget. Through an upload to the Instagram account @smindrawati, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani admitted that there were two invitations, the first on 27 July 2021 along with the president's internal meeting which had to be attended so that the deputy minister represented the MPR. Second, on September 28, 2021, at the same time as the Banggar DPR meeting to discuss the 2022 State Budget, the presence of the Minister of Finance is mandatory and very important. As a result, the meeting with the MPR was decided to be postponed. "Regarding the MPR budget. As is known in 2021, Indonesia will face a surge in COVID-19 due to the Delta variant. The entire KL budget must be refocused 4 times, the goal is to help deal with COVID-19," Sri Mulyani said in a statement quoted on Wednesday, December 1 . Sri Mulyani explained, COVID-19 assistance with patient claims that jumped very high, acceleration of vaccination, and implementation of PPKM in various regions. The budget, said Sri Mulyani, is also focused on helping the poor by increasing social assistance, helping subsidize workers' wages and helping MSMEs due to not being able to work with the implementation of PPKM Level 4.