Jokowi Will Fill Deputy Minister In PAN-RB, Tjahjo: Assistant To The President For Political Positions, It's Legal

Menpan RB Tjahjo Kumolo (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister for Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (Menpan RB) Tjahjo Kumolo has raised his voice regarding the plan to appoint a deputy minister for the ministry. According to Tjahjo, this does not need to be a polemic.

“There is no need for polemic (about) whether or not the position of deputy minister is necessary. Assistant to the president is a political position, so it is legal to be taken from any element," said Tjahjo Kumolo in his statement in Jakarta, Monday.

Tjahjo said President Joko Widodo had considered important and urgent matters if a deputy ministerial position was needed in the ministry.

Tjahjo stated that his party was preparing for the possibility of a deputy ministerial position, as regulated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 47 of 2021 concerning the Kemenpan RB.

"Regarding the news of the issuance of the Presidential Regulation of the Kemenpan RB which has been signed by the president, in principle, the Kemenpan RB should prepare it first as directed by the Secretary of State," he explained

According to him, every ministerial regulation that contains articles related to the position of vice minister aims to make the president able to appoint someone to fill the position at any time.

"Indeed, all presidential regulations concerning state ministries are required to include the position of deputy minister, so that at any time the president appoints a deputy minister, there is no need to change the presidential regulation," he added.

Therefore, regarding when the position of Deputy Menpan RB is filled, Tjahjo said it is the prerogative of President Joko Widodo.

"The matter of when there will be a deputy minister in the ministry is the prerogative of the president. It can be filled at any time or not," he said.

Previously, Tjahjo assessed that the Presidential Decree and the assignment of the Deputy Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform were aimed at strengthening the tasks of the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform in an effort to accelerate bureaucratic reform.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Regulation No. 47 of 2021 concerning the Kemenpan RB which was signed by the president on May 19, 2021.

In Article 2 Paragraph 1 of the Presidential Regulation it is explained that in leading the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform, the minister can be assisted by a deputy minister in accordance with the presidential appointment.

The task of the vice minister, according to the presidential regulation, is to assist the minister in the formulation and/or implementation of Kemenpan RB policies.

In addition, the vice minister is tasked with assisting the minister in coordinating the achievement of strategic policies across organizational units for high leadership positions in middle or echelon I within the Kemenpan RB.