Sandiaga Entering The Cabinet Is A Reconciliation That Makes You Hurt

Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno (Photo: Instagram @sandiuno)

JAKARTA - Sandiaga Uno's entry into the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy is considered a form of reconciliation between President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his political opponents.

"This is part of reconciliation. Sandi's entry is actually because of the allocation (Gerindra chair, red) to replace Edhy Prabowo who was arrested by the KPK," said Executive Director of the Indonesia Political Review (IPR) Ujang Komarudin when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, December 23.

Even so, on the one hand this is considered to be able to trigger heartache for the volunteers who support it. Moreover, there are still a number of Jokowi-Ma'ruh supporters in the presidential election who have yet to get a share in the power circle.

One of them was a tone that was conveyed by the Chairman of the DPP NasDem, Irma Suryani, commenting on Sandiaga being a minister. Ujang said, what was conveyed by Suryani was a sign of being hurt because she did not receive a share.

"It could be like that (hurt, red). Because this really hurts Jokowi's team because they are bleeding and sweating in the presidential election but those who get (position, red) are even political opponents," he said.

Furthermore, he assessed, as a result of this kind of thing, Jokowi finally got caught in the politics of reciprocation, namely by giving positions to his volunteers in order to prevent a split.

"Usually, for volunteers, Jokowi's timses will be assigned to become BUMN commissioners, ambassadors, or other positions. And they usually know about it," he said.

"Like that, in the end, it's politics of reciprocation," added Ujang.

It is known, after the 2019 presidential election, Jokowi invited the Gerindra Party, which is his political opponent, to form a coalition in the 2019-2024 period. Jokowi installed Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto as Minister of Defense and Edhy Prabowo as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

However, after Edhy Prabowo was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the bribery case for the export of lobster fry or lobster seeds, Jokowi then invited Sandiaga to enter his cabinet to take up the post of Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.

After having refused, Sandiaga was then introduced and inaugurated along with a number of names namely Tri Rismaharini who was later appointed as Minister of Social Affairs, Muhammad Lutfi who was later appointed as Minister of Trade, Yaqut Choilil as Minister of Religion, Budi Gunadi Sadikin as Minister of Health, and Sakti Wahyu Trenggono as Minister of Religion. Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

The reason the former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta wanted to join Jokowi's cabinet was because he felt that all parties had to unite in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a game changer. COVID-19 has changed everything, especially when in the last two weeks I have been contemplating, contemplating, reflecting, that we all finally have to unite," Sandiaga said after being sworn in at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday 23 December.

"Everything we do is in the interests of the nation and state. And if the state calls at this time, I think the responsibility lies with each of us," he added.

Separately, a spokesman for Sandiaga Uno, Kawendra Lukistian, said the Gerindra politician was willing to become a minister because of a heart call. Moreover, Sandiaga has always wanted to contribute to saving the country from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A heart call to help contribute to saving the nation out of the COVID-19 pandemic," Kawendra said when contacted by reporters.