The DKI New Regional Secretary And The Handling Burden Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On His Shoulder

Regional Secretary of DKI Marullah inaugurated (Photo: Instagram @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - The Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan, inaugurated the former South Jakarta Mayor, Marullah Matali, as the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of the DKI Jakarta Province, Monday, January 19.

When he was just inaugurated, Anies immediately put a "burden" on Marullah's shoulders. As the number one civil servant in Jakarta, Marullah must be able to hold and bridge coordination from the Governor-Deputy Governor of DKI to the ranks of the DKI Provincial Government, especially in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To the newly appointed Regional Secretary, we are still faced with a health crisis situation due to COVID-19. The Regional Secretary is asked to ensure that coordination between government agencies in DKI Jakarta runs well," said Anies during the inauguration, Monday, January 18.

Then, Marullah was also asked to coordinate his staff in an effort to restore the weakening health-economy condition so that the social conditions of Jakarta residents can run dynamically in the days ahead.

Anies also emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government is pursuing all targets related to development that are already in the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) and in the Activities of the Regional Secretary (KSD).

"As well as in all directions related to development, it must be carried out as well as possible and in accordance with the plan, on the other hand it must build a collaborative working atmosphere," said Anies.

Marullah emphasized that he would follow all of Anies' directions regarding the handling of the pandemic, including the health crisis to the economy.

He admitted that he would maximize the vaccination process in DKI which was started by a number of figures and health workers in the first stage, until the vaccination process for the public.

"Now it is very dangerous in Jakarta. Of course we will maximize the handling, especially regarding vaccines. Jakarta has started. Hopefully, with good community support it will minimize problems," said Marullah.

Selection of the DKI Regional Secretary to Marullah was chosen by Jokowi

Marullah participated in the selection test for the DKI Regional Secretary which was held by the DKI Provincial Government's selection committee, along with 18 other candidates who passed the administrative selection in early November 2020.

They will replace the former DKI Regional Secretary, Saefullah, who died on September 16, 2020.

Four DKI officials and four ASNs from outside DKI were declared not to have passed the next stage. Thus, there were 10 civil servants who took the competency assessment test and interview.

Until finally, the selection passed three candidates for the DKI Regional Secretary with the highest test scores, namely Marullah, Sri Haryati who is currently serving as Assistant for the Economy and Finance of the DKI Regional Secretary, and Sigit Wijatmoko as Mayor of North Jakarta.

Marullah is known to have won the highest score in the selection stage for the DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary. In the competency assessment test, Marullah scored 82.22 and received a weight of 20.56 percent.

Anies then sent these three names to be submitted to President Jokowi, through the Ministry of Home Affairs. Time passed, Jokowi finally chose Marullah as the DKI Regional Secretary through a presidential decree (Keppres).

Profile of Marullah

Marullah was born in Jakarta in 1965. He completed his education to master degree, namely S2 Islamic Law at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta.

Marullah started his career as a city civil servant as a staff of the DKI Jakarta Mental and Spiritual Development Bureau in 1996. Several years later, he was appointed as echelon II official as Head of the DKI Jakarta Education and Mental Bureau.

Furthermore, Jokowi, when he was Governor of DKI, appointed Marullah as Assistant Deputy to the Governor of DKI for the Tourism Sector.

His position continued as Assistant Deputy to the Governor of DKI for Population Control. Until 2018, he was appointed Mayor of South Jakarta.