Syahrul Yasin Limpo Replaces Luhut At KKP Only Until December 10

Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo to become Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Ad Interim until December 10, 2020. This appointment is to replace the previous Minister of KP Ad Interim, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

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.

Through the Letter of the Minister of State Secretary Number B-918 / M.Sesneg / D-3 / AN.00.03 / 12/2020 dated December 2, 2020, Syahrul was appointed as the head of the KKP. In the letter, State Secretary Pratikno explained that Luhut asked President Jokowi for permission to make an official trip abroad on December 2 to 10, 2020.

When confirmed regarding this, the Head of the KKP's Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau, Agung Tri Prasetyo confirmed this.

"That's right (Pak Syahrul replaced Pak Luhut until December 10)," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Thursday, December 3.

However, when asked further regarding whether after returning from abroad Luhut would still be the Acting Minister of KKP, Agung admitted that he did not know the exact information.

"Don't know that. All the powers of the president," he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Antam Novambar said that Luhut would arrive in Indonesia from his official trip abroad before December 10.

"He (Luhut) went abroad. The information was already in Indonesia on December 8," said Antam.

Syahrul Yasin Limpo encouraged the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to accelerate the absorption of the budgeted program.

"All concepts have been programmed so that efforts can be made to accelerate the closing of the 2020 fiscal year," said Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo as quoted by Antara.

Minister Syahrul after receiving a mandate from President Joko Widodo to carry out his duties as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ad Interim on Thursday 3 December came to the KKP Office.

At KKP, Minister Syahrul coordinated with a number of officials such as the Inspector General of the KKP Muhammad Yusuf. Minister Syahrul expressed his hope that all activities at the KKP could run as they were.

In addition to accelerating the 2020 program, Minister Syahrul also provided directions regarding the acceleration of program preparation for 2021.