Democrats Express The Consideration Of SBY Restui AHY To Be Jokowi's Minister

Secretary Of The Democratic Party High Council, Andi Mallarangeng/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - Secretary of the Democratic Party's High Council, Andi Mallarangeng, revealed the consideration of the Chairman of the Democratic Party's High Council Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to approve his General Chair, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to become a minister in the cabinet of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government.

AHY has just been appointed by Jokowi to become Minister of ATR/BPN replacing Hadi Tjahjanto.

Andi said that one of the reasons SBY approved AHY was consistency with the unity after the election in order to build Indonesia. Incidentally, he said, the position of ATR/BPN minister was vacant because Hadi was replaced by the President to replace Mahfud MD, who resigned as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

"Because the election has been completed, in any democratic countries when the competition election is over, now it's just a matter of counting, so yes, we are united again to build this nation," said Andi at the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 21.

"And we received an offer to join this government. There is a position for Mas AHY because Pak Hadi was inaugurated or shifted to the vacant Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. Because Pak Mahfud (resigned, ed), there is a position in the Minister of ATR and this is also a very strategic ministry, especially for the people," he continued.

According to Andi, it would be an honor if Jokowi offered a ministerial position to AHY. He emphasized that whenever the country needs a major Democratic cadre like AHY, it is ready to run.

"For us, we have been outside the government. We are consistent until our general elections are outside the government. Only now that we are in government, we will also be consistent. Unlike parties whose ministers are still in government but are in effect like the opposition," said Andi.

"For us, when we are outside our government, we are in opposition. If we are in our government, we are consistent within the government," he added.

Andi said that previously there had been no communication regarding this ministerial position between Jokowi and SBY. However, if the communication took place before the inauguration, Andi admitted that he did not know.

"No, no. The communication with Pak Jokowi in Jogja did not discuss the cabinet at all, did not discuss our position. We exchanged views on the problems of the nation, elections and so on. Maybe at that time Pak Jokowi wanted to listen to Mas AHY's views, maybe they were suitable," he said.