Ahok Chooses The Attorney General Or Minister Of Finance If He Gets An Offer To Become An Official

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok at the Ahok is Back event in Jakarta, Thursday (8/2/2024). (VOI/Mery Handayani)

PDIP politician Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok admitted that he would prefer to become a Attorney General or Minister of Finance (Menkeu) if he received an offer to become an official.

This was conveyed by Ahok when he received a question from rapper Young Lex in an event entitled Ahok is Back, in Jakarta, Thursday, February 8. Young Lex asked if Ahok was appointed as Chairman of the KPK, what would be done for the first time.

"So if you ask what I want? So only two, the Attorney General or the Minister of Finance," said Ahok.

Ahok admitted that he was reluctant to become the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) because his authority was limited. Therefore, he chose to become the Attorney General.

"If I'm the Attorney General, I can do what I'm trying to do? I made a list. So there is proof of a deficit placement, anyway. So if you want to be an official, how much is your property, how much do you pay taxes, it's appropriate or not," he said.

Apart from the Attorney General, Ahok admitted that he would choose to serve as Minister of Finance if he received an offer. Even so, at first Ahok admitted that he wanted to serve as Director General of Customs and Excise.

Ahok's desire was motivated by the condition of Indonesia which was flooded with imports. As a result, many small companies or industries in the country went bankrupt. Reflecting on the way the Singapore government in the era of Lee Kuan Yew's leadership, to build the country began with the improvement of customs first.

In fact, said Ahok, President Soeharto once said that the government could only protect entrepreneurs through import duties or imports until 2020.

However, continued Ahok, entrepreneurs can no longer be protected because of the rules from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Reflecting on this problem, Ahok also offered himself to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to become Director General of Customs and Excise when he was released from detention in 2018.

At that time, Ahok asked Jokowi what he could help in the government. Instead of answering, Jokowi asked Ahok what he could help.

"Mr. Ahok, what are you going to help with? I want to help the industries not go bankrupt, sir. This is a story in detention in 2018," said Ahok.

"I ask to be the Director General of Customs and Excise. I guarantee that smuggling stops. Because in the era of Mr. Harto, the smuggling was subversive, turning off the industry, meaning that he made so many layoffs, all sales would be stuck, taxes would all go down, this country would go bankrupt," he continued.

However, Ahok's wish will not be realized due to hampered age factors. As a result, Ahok also admitted that he would become Minister of Finance if he had the opportunity to become an official.

"It's customs under me, right. But the ministers will be repaired for their salaries," he said.