Jokowi's Task For The New Minister Of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin: Handle COVID-19 To Return To Normal Life

Budi Gunadi Sadikin. ANTARA / HO-Setpres

JAKARTA - After being appointed as Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin admitted that he received an important task from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Budi Gunadi was asked to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic problem so that people's lives can return to normal as before.

"We were assigned one of them to solve the problems caused by the COVID-19 virus. So that our children can return to school to learn by meeting their teachers, so that all MSME entrepreneurs can open their shops and return to trade as usual, so that all workers can come return to his office and start a normal life so that we can return to stay in touch with our friends and family, "Budi said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Tuesday, December 22.

Budi Gunadi said he would try his best so that the mandate given to him could be carried out properly. However, to carry out his duties, Budi said, he could not work alone but had to be accompanied by the roles and cooperation of all parties.

"We cannot do it alone, we must do it together. The Ministry of Health cannot do it exclusively. We have to do it inclusively," he said.

According to him, community participation is needed in facing this pandemic. This is because the government, through the Ministry of Health, cannot make a policy without being obeyed by the community.

In addition, he considered, if all parties were united, in the future Indonesia would have a strong health service system capable of fighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We can also prepare a public health service system that is ready, strong, capable so that the generation after us can face Sars-COV-3 and 4, which we don't know when it will come," he said.

Previously reported, Budi Gunadi Sadikin was appointed as Minister of Health (Menkes) replacing Terawan Agus Putranto by President Joko Widodo. Furthermore, he will be sworn in by Jokowi on Wednesday, December 22 along with six other people.

The five new ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet are Tri Risma Harini as Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Wahyu Sakti Trenggono as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sandiaga Uno as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Yaqut Cholil Coumas as Minister of Religion, and Muhammad Lutfi as the Minister of Trade.

Budi Gunadi Sadikin started his career in banking. Graduates from the Bandung Institute of Technology became Chief GM HR PT Bank Bali Tbk (1994–1999), and Senior VP Consumer and Commercial Banking ABN Amro Bank Indonesia & Malaysia (1999–2004).

He also served as Executive VP of Consumer Banking at PT Bank Danamon Tbk (2004–2006), Director of Micro and Retail Banking at PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (2006–2013), President Director of PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (2013–2016), Special Staff of the Minister of BUMN (2016–2017).

Then, Budi Gunadi Sadikin was the President Director of PT Inalum. In 2019, Budi Gunadi was appointed deputy minister of BUMN by President Joko Widodo.