Jero Wacik Resigns From The Position Of Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources In History Today, September 5, 2014

Jero Wacik, who was Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for the 2009-2014 era. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA History today, 11 years ago, September 5, 2014, Jero Wacik officially resigned from the position of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The letter of resignation because he was a corruption suspect has been received by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

Previously, Jero was known as a hardline SBY loyalist. This condition has earned many classy positions in the SBY administration. He was Minister of Culture and Tourism in the 2004-2009 era. He also started a new journey as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

There is nothing an Indonesian President cannot do. The owner of power has the right to appoint who can be sat in the cabinet ranks. This condition sometimes makes the president often appoints his own loyalists.

Take for example when SBY appointed his loyalist Jero Wacik as Minister of Culture and Tourism since 2004. This trust was given because SBY believed that Jero, who incidentally was a Democratic Party cadre, could make many changes, especially making Indonesian tourism looked at by the world.

Jero ended the task well. However, SBY actually again challenged Jero to become Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources from 2009. At first the position was carried out smoothly. However, that position actually brought big problems.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) smells bad behavior from Jero. Jero is considered by the KPK to have abused authority and extortion at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The modes vary. Jero took the remaining funds for activities, collected deposits, and held a fictitious meeting.

Jero is considered to have caused a loss of Rp9.9 billion. At its peak, Jero was named a suspect by the KPK on September 3, 2014. The news of Jero being a suspect is everywhere.

President SBY himself was shocked. Jero is considered to have violated Article 12 paragraph e or Article 23 of the Corruption Eradication Law, which is affiliated with Article 421 of the Criminal Code.

"After becoming a minister at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, funds are needed for a larger ministerial operation. To get a larger fund than budgeted, we are asked to do several things to people in the ministry," said Bambang Widjojanto, quoted on the website. BBC Indonesia, September 3, 2014.

Criticism against Jero, who is a suspect, began to arrive. Criticism also came from the party that raised Jero's political career, the Democratic party. Jero is considered to have violated the Democratic integrity pact not to be corrupt. Jero was then asked to resign from the Democratic Party.

There was no less pressure from the position of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. At its peak, Jero officially resigned on September 5, 2014. President SBY immediately received his resignation letter. SBY then began to look for a replacement for Jero.

"Regarding who is appointed, we are waiting for the President's decision because he is the most authorized. Maybe at the beginning of next week there will be a replacement," said Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Chairul Tanjung as quoted by sambukompas.com, September 5, 2014.