Reluctant To Imitate Mahfud, NasDem Doesn't Want His Minister To Resign From Jokowi's Cabinet

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar (ANTARA)

Deputy Chairperson of the NasDem Party, Ahmad Ali, emphasized that he would not ask the minister from his party to resign, following in the footsteps of Mahfud MD, who resigned from the position of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs because he was no longer in line with Jokowi.

Ali views that the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar as a minister from NasDem does not have a direct conflict of interest in the 2024 presidential election.

Similar to the attitude of the ministers from PKB who are now carrying the presidential and vice presidential candidates Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, according to Ali.

"That's a different thing. The ministers don't have a direct conflict of interest. They are not part of people who are in competition. This competition is carried out by parties, not people," Ali said when contacted, Thursday, February 1.

Ali continued, the positions of NasDem and PKB are in the Jokowi administration which was formed since 2019.

Although now NasDem and PKB are in a coalition with presidential and vice-presidential candidates who often criticize the government, Ali handed it over to Jokowi if he wanted to reshuffle his ministers.

"This cabinet has been formed since 2019. That this coalition of government was formed by Jokowi, NasDem, PDIP, and several other parties. This is the responsibility and commitment because the ministers of PKB and NasDem are implementing President Jokowi's policies, not party policies," he explained.

On the one hand, Ali admitted that he was surprised why Mahfud only now stated that he would resign from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.

"It should have been from the start. It should have been yesterday," said Ali.

According to Ali, Mahfud's decision was late because now his status is as a vice presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate. Moreover, the voting day is only two weeks left.

"It should have been yesterday, when Pak Mahfud officially became a vice presidential candidate," said Ali.

However, Ali respects Mahfud's decision. This is because Ali sees a conflict of interest in Mahfud's status as a minister as well as a contestant for the 2024 presidential election.

"Well, be grateful that later today Mr. Mahfud resigned," he concluded.