Bahlil Denies Will Replace Arifin As Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources: I'm Busy At Work

Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: between)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is rumored to be making a change of position or a reshuffle of ministers in his work cabinet. The issue circulating at this time is that Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadia is predicted to replace the position of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif.

Responding to the issue of the change, the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia denied that he would replace Arifin as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Furthermore, Bahlil also emphasized that he was busy working at the Ministry of Investment.

"Today I work at the Ministry of Investment," said Bahlil, when met at the Office of the Ministry of Investment, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 30.

"I'm busy at the Ministry of Investment, I'm working. I have a lot of work to do at the Ministry of Investment, I want another meeting," he continued.

When asked again about the figure of Rosan Roeslani, who is confident that he will replace his position as Minister of Investment, Bahlil admitted that he did not know the news.

"I don't know (news of Rosan Roeslani entering the cabinet), I still have a meeting about it," he said.

Bahlil also revealed that there were no plans to fly to the capital city of Nusantara (IKN). Following, Jokowi's plan to hold the inaugural cabinet meeting in the new capital city.

"I don't work much today, my agenda is today," he said.

Bantah Palace There Will Be A Reshuffle

Previously, it was reported that Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana denied that President Joko Widodo would reshuffle a number of ministers in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) in the near future.

"There is no agenda for the inauguration of a new minister at IKN such as issues circulating," said Ari in a written message to the media received in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 30.

Ari's statement was in response to the rumors that Bahlil Lahadalia, who currently serves as Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM, would be rotated as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). He reiterated that until now there has been no plan for a cabinet reshuffle agenda.

"It's not true. Until now there has been no plan / cabinet reshuffle agency," said Ari.

President Jokowi is currently continuing his agenda for activities on the second day of office at the Garuda Palace, the capital of the archipelago, East Kalimantan.

The President's agenda for activities this Tuesday included receiving local entrepreneurs around IKN at around 09.30 WITA at the Garuda IKN Palace.

"The president wants to invite and give local entrepreneurs around IKN the opportunity to participate and jointly pick up futures at IKN," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of Presidential Secretariat Yusuf Permana.