As A Cabinet Reshuffle, Jokowi Must Find A Figure Like Susi Pudjiastuti For The KKP Minister

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - It is reported that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will reform the six ministers who currently sit in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. One of the ministerial posts that will be overhauled is the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

This position is vacant because former KKP Minister who used to be a cadre of the Gerindra Party, Edhy Prabowo, was named a suspect in the bribery case for the export permit of lobster seeds (fries) by the KPK.

Regarding finding a replacement for Edhy at the KKP, a political observer from the Indonesian Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah, thinks that Jokowi has a little difficulty finding a replacement figure.

Because, before Edhy took office, the figure of Susi Pudjiastuti as Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for 2014-2019 was already embedded in the public memory with an image of integrity.

"The public sees Susi's policy as proven to save her from corruption. Meanwhile, her successor who revised Susi's policy is proven to be corrupt. From this point of view, we learn that policy is not only about success, but about closing gaps in corruption," Dedi told VOI, Tuesday, December 22. .

Dedi said it would be better for Jokowi to seek professional candidates for the Minister of KKP. Jokowi, he said, must have the courage to take the risk of reducing Gerindra's share in the cabinet for the sake of public trust.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has a performance orientation to impact the country. Although there is a little freedom in determining which ministers, continued Dedi, it still needs to be avoided from political as well as corporate circles. Therefore, according to Dedi, Jokowi needs to find a figure like Susi Pudjiastuti to become Minister of KKP.

"Appointing a name is certainly difficult. But, at least the KKP policy felt there was a big change when Minister Susi was there. Even if Susi could not return to the KKP, at least the President could choose a figure with equal knowledge and experience with him," he explained.

Corruption in the KKP

The KPK named Edhy as a suspect on suspicion of accepting bribes from companies that were issued with a lobster seed export license using a forwarder company and deposited in one account up to Rp9.8 billion.

The money that goes to the account of PT ACK, which is currently the sole cargo service provider for the export of lobster seeds, is then withdrawn to the accounts of PT ACK holders, namely Ahmad Bahtiar and Amri, for a total of Rp9.8 billion.

Furthermore, on November 5, 2020, Ahmad Bahtiar transferred to the account of Edhy's wife, Ainul, in the amount of IDR 3.4 billion for the needs of Edhy, his wife Iis Rosyati Dewi, Safri, and Andreau.

The money is for shopping for luxury goods by Edhy and his wife in Honolulu, USA, from November 21 to 23, 2020, around IDR 750 million, including a Rolex watch, Tumi and LV bags, and Old Navy clothes.

In addition, around May 2020, Edhy was also suspected of receiving 100,000 US dollars from Suharjito through Safri and Amiril.