Risma Reportedly Offered To Replace Juliari Batubara, PDIP: The Authority Lies With Bu Mega And Pak Jokowi

Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini (Risma) /DOK.ANTARA

JAKARTA - It is rumored that the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini (Risma) will replace Juliari Peter Batubara as Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos). Juliari is involved in the alleged bribery case for the provision of COVID-19 social assistance (bansos) in the Jabodetabek area.

Responding to this issue, the Chairman of the PDI-P DPP, Ahmad Basarah, later denied it. He admitted that he had not heard anything, including the offer for Risma to fill the position left by Juliari.

"I have not heard of any information regarding President Jokowi's offer to Mrs. Risna to become Minister of Social Affairs to replace Juliari," said Basarah in a written statement to reporters, Monday, December 14.

According to him, whoever will be the replacement for the Minister of Social Affairs is the decision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as well as the decision of the Chairman of the PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, as the party's highest leader.

"The matter of PDIP cadres who will be assigned and proposed to the president to become Minister of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet is the authority and prerogative of Bu Mega as the Chairperson of the PDI-P," he said.

"And regarding the decision to appoint a minister, it is President Jokowi's prerogative," the Vice Chairman of the MPR RI added.

Previously reported, Risma also denied that he had been offered the position of Minister of Social Affairs. "Seng nawari sopo? (Who offered him)," said Risma.

"We'll see, I'll just join Ibu Mega," said Risma.

When asked by reporters again about the ministerial position in the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin cabinet, Risma always asked back about the figure who was said to have offered him the position of minister.

"Your crew fry Dewe (play alone)," said Risma.

What is clear, said Risma, has not yet been communicated to him. Risma said that the Surabaya Pilkada business had not yet been completed.

"There is no (communication) yet. This is still a regional election, so the election is not over yet, "added Risma.

It is known, the KPK has named a number of suspects in connection with the alleged corruption case of social assistance (bansos) packages of basic foodstuffs for the handling of COVID-19 in the Greater Jakarta area including Social Minister Juliari Batubara.

Apart from Juliari, the KPK also named four other suspects, namely the Commitment Making Officer at the Ministry of Social Affairs (PPK) MJS and AW as recipients of bribes and AIM and HS as the givers of bribes.

KPK Chairman Filri Bahuri said this case began when Juliari appointed two commitment-making officials (PPK) Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi to carry out this project by directly appointing partners.

"And it is suspected that it was agreed to set a fee for each work package that partners must deposit to the Ministry of Social Affairs through MJS," said Firli.

There is also a fee for each COVID-19 social assistance package agreed by Matheus and Adi of IDR 10,000 from a value of IDR 300 thousand.

Matheus and Adi then made work contracts with several suppliers as partners for providing social assistance in May-November 2020. The partners chosen were AIM, HS, and PT Rajawali Parama Indonesia aka PT RPI which allegedly belonged to Matheus.

"The appointment of PT RPI as one of the partners is suspected of being known by JPB and approved by AW," he said.

In the first phase of the distribution of social assistance, a fee of IDR 12 billion is suspected. Matheus gave around Rp. 8.2 billion in cash to Juliari through Adi.

In this silent operation, the KPK also confiscated evidence in the form of money that had been prepared from the bribes, namely AIM and HS in one of the apartments in Jakarta and Bandung. Rp14.5 billion was kept in a number of suitcases and bags and consisted of rupiah denominations and foreign currency.

"Each of them is around Rp. 11.9 billion, around USD 171,085 (equivalent to Rp. 2.420 billion) and around SGD 23,000 (equivalent to Rp. 243 million)," said Firli.