Reshuffling Minister, Who Will Be Replaced?

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - The issue of reshuffling is raising again following changes in the new nomenclature, namely the merger of the Ministry of Research and Technology (Kemenristek) with the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), as well as the establishment of the Ministry of Investment.

After the decision was approved by the House of Representatives, the board members believed the merger would inevitably be followed by a cabinet reshuffle.

"The logic is that, when there are added ministries, it must be filled", said Chairman of the Education Commission or Commission X of the House of Representatives Saiful Huda, Friday, April 9.

Not long ago, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin were reported to have discussed the issue of cabinet reshuffle of Indonesia Maju.

Vice President Ma'ruf's spokesman Masduki Baidlowi also confirmed the issue of ministerial change. "Of course the Vice President has discussed this with the president", vice president Spokesman Ma'ruf Masduki Baidlowi said at an online press conference on Monday, April 12.

In fact, President Jokowi has met the Chairman of the PDIP Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri. It's believed the two talked about the cabinet.

The Office of the President's Staff also mentioned that changes to the cabinet structure will be made in these weeks.

"Hopefully this week. So that people can work immediately and there is no cross-section", said Expert of the Presidential Staff Office, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, Tuesday, April 13.

Then who's on the radar of minister reshuffle?

Regarding the possibility of any ministers in the three ministries that will be overhauled, the Expert of the Presidential Staff Office, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, declined to elaborate.

"The president knows best. There is no difficulty for Mr. Jokowi to determine his subordinates or ministers later", he said.

Ngabalin said that the existence of the Ministry of Investment itself is not yet known for sure, whether to replace the function of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) which has been dealing with investment issues.

However, he said, Bahlil Lahadalia's position as the country's organizer remains secure in the cabinet. Because according to Ngabalin, the performance of the former Chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) was quite effective in the last year.

"Judging from the outstanding performance, Mr. Bahlil's outstanding performance in this year is extraordinary how to include investments that are hundreds of trillions, a performance like this I think reappointed, although we should not precede God", explained Ngabalin.

Meanwhile, proposals from outside the Palace on the issue of reshuffle are also crowded. Volunteer of Jokowi Mania (JoMan) said there are five ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet who deserve to be replaced. One of them, Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Pratikno.

"We think Pratikno is a minister who always put the president in the political abyss, I think it is very dangerous", joMan Volunteer Chairman Immanuel Ebenezer said in an online discussion titled 'Cabinet Reshuffle of An Inevitability', Tuesday, April 13.

In addition to Pratikno, Noel assessed, four other ministers who need to be reshuffled include Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Information Jhonny G. Plate, Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi, and Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Sofyan Djalil.

According to him, Jokowi should be sensitive to these five ministers. Because he said, these five people have another focus outside the duties of the state, namely elections 2024.

"Now that's why I'm worried about ministers who participate or try to be deaf with election disease, I think it's better to step down or yes the president should step down", Noel said.

Responding to his name being included in the list of proposed reshuffled ministers, Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate admitted himself open to public opinion. He understands any opinion from the community for the betterment of the sector he leads.

"We must always be open and listen to the input and sense of the community for the improvement of the course of government in every sector including the information sector (digital, red)", Johnny said, Tuesday, April 13.

Instead, he encouraged an immediate reshuffle related to the merger of the Ministry of Education and Technology, as well as the establishment of the Ministry of Investment.

"Cabinet reshuffle is the domain of the president is entirely the prerogative of the president. But considering that the House of Representatives has approved the changes, the merger thus has an impact on the nomenclature and the number of ministries then of course it is necessary to do a cabinet reshuffle, either limited or even wider", he said.

According to the Secretary-General of Nasdem Party, a faster reshuffle would be better. "For the certainty of the course of government, the sooner the better", Johnny said.

"But then again, related to this is entirely the domain of the president. We support the president's decision", he continued.