Having Said That He Had A Lot Of Work To Do, Jokowi Removed Luhut From The KKP

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Instagram @ luhut, pandjaitan)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has just removed Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan from the position of Ad Interim Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Jokowi also appointed Syahrul Yasin Limpo to fill the vacant position of Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

This was revealed in the Letter of the Minister of State Secretary Number B-918 / M.Sesneg / D-3 / AN.00.03 / 12/2020 dated December 2, 2020. In which the letter was addressed to Syahrul.

"We respectfully inform you that the President (Jokowi) is pleased to appoint the Minister of Agriculture to replace the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment as the Ad Interim Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries," said State Secretary Pratikno, in the letter, quoted by VOI, Wednesday, December 2.

Pratikno also explained that Syahrul's appointment was motivated by a letter from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment number B-3863 / MARVES / MARITIM / RT.01.00 / XI / 2020 dated 22 November 2020.

"In essence, (Luhut) asked the President for permission to take an official trip abroad on December 2-10, 2020," he said.

Previously, Luhut admitted that he did not want to take long to replace Edhy Prabowo to lead the KKP. This was conveyed by Luhut after the inaugural meeting with echelon I ranks of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) which was held at the Mantaee Meeting Room, 7th Floor, Mina Bahari 1 Building, KKP Office, Jakarta, Friday, November 27 afternoon.

Initially, Luhut was asked by the media crew about the figure of Edhy Prabowo's replacement as the definitive marine and fisheries minister. However, Luhut did not comment much.

"Asked the president (President Joko Widodo)," he said.

Luhut was again asked whether a candidate to replace Edhy Prabowo had been discussed.

"How do I know that, you ask who has a job. About this position I also don't want to stay long, I do a lot of work," he said.

As is known, Luhut served as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ad Interim because Edhy Prabowo was appointed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a suspect in a bribery case related to the issuance of lobster seed export permits.

Edhy was secured by the KPK upon arrival at Soekarno Hatta Airport after a working visit to the United States, on Wednesday, November 25, in the early hours of the morning. KPK investigators immediately led Edhy and 16 other people, including his wife, Iis Rosita Dewi, to be questioned.

In the arrest of Minister Edhy and 16 people including his wife, Iis Rosita Dewi, the KPK helped secure a number of evidence. One of them is a debit card that is suspected of being related to a corruption case related to the process of determining a prospective lobster seed exporter.