Dismissing Jokowi, Sudirman Said Affirms Presidents And Ministers Difficult To Release State Facilities If Campaigning

Co-Captain National Team Anies-Muhaimin (AMIN) Sudirman Said (Photo: DOK VOI/Diah Ayu)

JAKARTA - Co-Captain Anies-Muhaimin (AMIN) Winning National Team Sudirman Said emphasized that the president and minister cannot release state facilities if they participate in campaigning during the election period. This dismissed President Joko Widodo's claim that the president and minister could campaign as long as they did not use state facilities obtained during their tenure. "The president is moving once, hundreds of people because there are presidential paspampres, vehicles, lodging facilities. So, in terms of aspects that it does not use state facilities, it is very difficult to implement," said Sudirman at Rumah Perubahan, Jalan Brawijaya, South Jakarta, Wednesday, 24 January. Sudirman shared his experience while serving as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in 2014-2016. At that time, Sudirman felt unable to release the state facilities attached. "I was once a minister. Have I ever been released from state facilities? It's difficult, right? Everywhere with official cars, living in official houses. Entourages outside the city are taken care of by state funds. That's just the minister, what about the president?" said Sudirman. Furthermore, Sudirman views Jokowi's statement as giving a wider way for political ministers to aggressively campaign for the presidential and vice presidential candidates of his party coalition. Meanwhile, ministers have the main task of managing their ministries and institutions during their tenure. "There is an obligation that once we are appointed as public officials, whether it is the minister, directors of SOEs, regents, mayors, and presidents, then his entire life is intended solely for the benefit of the people for the benefit of their work," he said. Previously, Jokowi emphasized that everyone has political and democratic rights, including ministers. In fact, Jokowi said that a president may take sides and campaign. “ The right to democracy, the political rights of each minister are the same. The important thing is that the president may campaign. The president may take sides. Yes,” said Jokowi on Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, East Jakarta. Jokowi said that as a public official, he and the ministers could do politics. But, what must be remembered, state facilities should not be used other than for their work. "But the most important thing is that during campaign time you can't use state facilities," he said.

“ We are public officials as well as political officials. You can't do this, you can't do politics, you can't. The minister is also allowed, ” Jokowi continued. Even so, Jokowi did not explain much about the certainty of no conflict of interest if the president and ministers sided with certain pairs in the 2024 presidential election. He only said that the law only prohibits the use of state facilities. "That's all, the one who manages it can't just use state facilities. That's all," he concluded.