Regarding The Replacement For Tjahjo Kumolo, Mahfud MD: It Must Have Been In Mr. Jokowi's Pocket

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Rusman

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had already pocketed the name of a replacement for Tjahjo Kumolo.

It's just that, because there is still an atmosphere of mourning, the replacement for the Minister of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (MenPAN RB) has not been announced to the public.

"Mr. Jokowi must have known and already had it in his pocket. Maybe he was just waiting for the time for his condolences to pass," Mahfud said in a written statement to reporters, Monday, July 4.

Mahfud, who is currently serving as the ad interim MenPAN RB, thinks that Jokowi already has his own assessment of who is the right person. Thus, he did not want to talk much about who the character might be replacing Tjahjo.

Moreover, the appointment of ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet is the prerogative of President Jokowi.

"I have no preference for any assessment or anyone to replace Mr. Tjahjo Kumolo," he said.

"I believe that the president has a complete assessment tool to choose the right person to be a minister to be appointed based on the president's prerogative," continued the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

Minister for Administrative Reform and Public Reform (MenPAN RB) Tjahjo Kumolo passed away at Abdi Waluyo Hospital, Central Jakarta on Friday, July 1 at around 11.10 western Indonesia time.

According to the family, Tjahjo had an infection in his stomach which then spread to other organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver.

He died after being in intensive care for 13 days. Doctors who treated him also came from three hospitals, namely Abdi Waluyo Hospital, Harapan Kita Hospital, and Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD).