The Minister's Performance Is Bad Until The PCR Business Issue, Jokowi Is Suggested To Reshuffle His Cabinet Immediately

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Screenshot)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is advised to reshuffle ministers who have poor performance and often make noise. Because, there are several ministers who have this category.

This was conveyed by a political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga. According to him, the most obvious was the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Coumas who had issued a controversial statement about the Ministry of Religion being a state gift for Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Then, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD suggested that the 2024 Simultaneous Elections be held on May 15, even though the KPU as the election organizer had planned for February 21. Also the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, who seems slow in making decisions and coordinating elections. Recently, two of Jokowi's ministers, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Tohir, are said to be involved in the PCR test business. Not to mention the ministers who do not perform in carrying out the duties of the president.

Jamiluddin said that Jokowi could indeed reshuffle at any time because it was the president's prerogative. Usually, a cabinet reshuffle is carried out if there is a minister or deputy minister's performance which is considered poor or repeatedly causes a commotion or is permanently absent. It could also be because coordination between ministers is considered unable to be improved.

"If that's the basis, Jokowi's cabinet should need to be reshuffled. Because some ministers have relatively low performance and some ministers often make noise," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Thursday, November 4.

In addition, he continued, Jokowi also filled most of the deputy ministerial posts. In fact, these deputy ministers do not seem to stand out so that they do not contribute to improving the performance of the ministry where they are assigned.

"Therefore, all deputy ministers should be eliminated. Duties and functions of deputy ministers can be distributed to the Secretary General and Director General in each ministry so that it can save the state budget," said Jamiluddin.

According to him, such ministers and deputy ministers can reduce public confidence in Jokowi's cabinet. If this continues, Jamiludrin said, it will have an impact on the declining public trust in Jokowi.

"If public confidence falls, of course, support for Jokowi's cabinet will also decrease," he said. Jamiluddin said that without the support of the people of Jokowi's cabinet, it would naturally be difficult to realize his work programs. This will certainly have implications for Jokowi's political promises not being realized.

"So, looking at the current reality, Jokowi's cabinet should indeed be reshuffled. The problem is, does Jokowi have the guts to reshuffle some ministers and all deputy ministers?," Jamiluddin quipped.

According to Jamiluddin, the doubt is because Jokowi is supported by a fat coalition. On the one hand, every supporting political party certainly does not want its ministers and deputy ministers to be reshuffled. Because, they will easily attract support that can destabilize Jokowi's cabinet.

"Even Jokowi will not dare to reshuffle ministers from PDIP even though their performance is below standard. Because Jokowi is only a party official," he said.