Mahfud Explains Meeting With Jokowi: We Smile About The Past

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD gave a statement regarding his resignation at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, Thursday (1/2/2024). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

President Joko Widodo said Mahfud MD was the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) who served the longest in his cabinet for two periods.

This was conveyed by the President when he received Mahfud MD who submitted his resignation letter as a minister at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, February 1, as stated by Mahfud MD after the meeting.

"(In the meeting) we smiled, were happy, told about the past when we started working. Even the President said that Mr. Mahfud was the longest-serving Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs throughout Pak Jokowi's administration," Mahfud said after a meeting with the President, quoted by ANTARA.

Mahfud's meeting with Jokowi was closed. Mahfud conveyed a statement accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.

According to the President, said Mahfud, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs previously, namely Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, had served for less than a year.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, only served four months, then Wiranto served for about three years and six months, while he served for about four years and six months.

Mahfud declared his resignation from ministerial office due to political developments, which required him to focus on other tasks.

"Because of political developments, I really have to focus on other tasks, so I beg you to stop," said Mahfud.

Mahfud submitted a letter of resignation to the President directly Thursday evening at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. According to him, the letter he submitted contained three things.

First, Mahfud expressed his gratitude to President Joko Widodo for appointing him as minister on October 23, 2019 with full respect. So that officially he also respectfully stated a letter asking to resign.

Second, regarding the substance of the contents of the letter of application to stop, and third, Mahfud apologized if there were things that could not be carried out properly while serving as minister.