So Polemic, Golkar Politicians Suggest Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Meet MPR Leaders

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati/ Instagram

JAKARTA - The MPR RI leadership's insistence on President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to remove the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani has now become a polemic. Sri Mulyani was considered to have disrespected the MPR because she did not attend the invitations that had been sent twice.

In response, member of the House of Representatives Commission XI from the Golkar Party faction, Mukhamad Misbakhun, suggested Sri Mulyani to visit the MPR leadership and communicate directly so that there would be no impression that Sri Mulyani as Minister of Finance did not respect the MPR RI as an institution.

"This has to be found a way out, how institutionally Mrs. Sri Mulyani so that there is no impression of not respecting, disrespecting the MPR, coming to the MPR to explain to the MPR directly, what are the basis and arguments regarding policies in the budget sector and the reasons for this. his absence from meetings with the MPR leadership," said Misbakhun to reporters, Thursday, December 2. Furthermore, the East Java legislator invited all parties to look at this issue openly and not emotionally. Because Misbakhun reminded, currently the situation related to the budget is not only the MPR which has decreased the budget ceiling, the DPR and DPD have also experienced a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Because the COVID-19 pandemic puts a very heavy pressure on state revenues. It is hoped that the government will make serious efforts in terms of this budget allocation so that it is not excessive," said Misbakhun.

Misbakhun understands that there are programs in the MPR RI that may not work because of the budget reduction. However, according to him, this must be a joint effort in determining which is the priority scale. "Which are the serious things that must be prioritized in the implementation (budgeting)," he added.

Regarding the request to remove or replace the Minister of Finance, the Golkar politician emphasized that this was the prerogative of the President. However, Misbakhun admitted that as a working partner of Commission XI, he appreciated Sri Mulyani in dealing with the DPR.

"He (Sri Mulyani, ed) if he cannot attend or represent meetings there are usually very important reasons related to the President, cabinet meetings or agendas related to the planned overseas agenda. And he always send letters officially the reasons why you can't attend the meeting," said Misbakhun.