Denying Cawe-cawe, SYL: 30 Years As An Official Never Asked

Syahrul Yasin Limpo/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) denied the testimony that called him often fussy with the director general (Dirjen) at the Ministry of Agriculture to ask for money.

According to him, a minister cannot take care of technical matters regarding official travel.

"I've never been in trouble with technical problems, sir. I'm the minister, who goes on a trip, using what is operational engineering," said SYL during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Monday, May 20.

SYL also said that echelon I would not take care of technical travel. So, it is impossible for a minister to ask for money during an official trip.

"It doesn't stop there in echelon I, especially when the minister wants to ask where the money is, who gives it to. So I think this is something that I need to explain, sir, because I feel that if this is the case, all of them will show the minister," said SYL.

"Meanwhile, the minister is a position that describes the objectives of elaborating the mission and vision of the president and state. In echelon I is a strategic echelon II program with an operational safari, operational technology is in echelon III and IV. That is the intellectual academic frame of existing government," he continued.

SYL also admitted that he had never asked for money during his tens of years in government.

"And I've never, sir, I've been an official for 30 years, starting from the regent, regional secretary, never begging like that, especially in open forums, asking for money and others," said SYL.