Mahfud Resigns, Bahlil: It's Normal, The Cabinet Doesn't Shake

Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia when delivering a statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Friday (2/2/2024). ANTARA/Andi Firdaus

JAKARTA - Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia said Mahfud MD's decision to resign from Jokowi's cabinet was normal.

"It's not something extraordinary, just ordinary," said Bahlil at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 2.

He said the reshuffle of the cabinet to the ministers who resigned was common as a dynamic of the development of the existing situation, including Mahfud's decision to resign from the position of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

According to Bahlil, Mahfud's decision needs to be respected as the political right in question.

"Pak Mahfud is my senior at the Islamic Student Association (HMI) and a very kind person. Today he resigned, we respect his political rights, that's a political right," he said.

According to Bahlil, Mahfud's resignation has been approved by President Jokowi by receiving his visit to the Jakarta Presidential Palace with a family atmosphere, Thursday (1/2).

"So there's nothing to be exaggerated about, it's normal," he said.

When asked again about the issue of a number of other ministers who were about to withdraw from KIM, Bahlil called it false information.

Even a series of meeting agendas involving the President and a number of ministers from the PDIP were joking.

"Oh no, the cabinet doesn't 'gorge' just normally," he said.

He said the agenda of his meeting with a number of Italian investors regarding the new oil block was also attended by President Jokowi along with a number of ministers from PDIP, such as Minister of State Secretary Pramono Anung and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif.

"What's the discomfort? We had a meeting with Pak Pram, I, Mr. Arifin, both of them are from PDIP, right. We joked with the President. Just relax," he said.

Bahlil assessed the issue of the next minister stepping down from KIM as far-fetched information.

"I'm confused, how come the issue is too far-fetched, but it's just a casual meeting with Pak Arifin with Pak Pram that's normal. How come it feels like people outside know better than we know inside," he added.

The issue related to this, said Bahlil, was raised by parties who felt uncomfortable with the situation.

"We can distinguish which ones are state matters, which ones are political matters," he said.