Refly Harun Explains Megawati-PDIP's 3 Most Hated Figures: Luhut Binsar, Rini And Andi Widjajanto

Constitutional Law Expert Refly Harun (Photo: Screenshot of Refly Harun's Youtube)

JAKARTA - PDI-P General Chair, Megawati Soekarnoputri, recently issued a shocking statement regarding the command to handle the COVID-19 disaster. Mega asked Jokowi as head of state to directly handle every policy to overcome the pandemic.

"I said to Mr. President, 'It is the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia who must directly (hold the command, ed). Because this is an extraordinary problem", Megawati said while giving a speech in a virtual event broadcast on PDI Perjuangan's YouTube some time ago.

Megawati's statement caused various reactions about what really happened at the palace. How not, the minister who often appears in conveying policies for handling the COVID pandemic is Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Evidently, Luhut now serves as the Coordinator of Emergency Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) and Level 4 for Java and Bali. Former President Commissioner of PT Pelindo I, Refly Harun, said it was common knowledge that Luhut was not a figure who was in line with Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Since Jokowi's the first term, Megawati and PDIP have been trying to get Luhut out of the palace circle. Besides Luhut, there are also the names of former SOE Ministers Rini Soemarno and Andi Widjajanto.

"It is an open secret that Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is not a figure who is in line with or compatible with Megawati Soekarnoputri in the early days of President Jokowi's administration", Refly explained via the Youtube channel @ReflyHarun quoted Monday, August 9.

Initially working in Jokowi's Cabinet, Luhut was initially entrusted as the Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP). Furthermore, each important position was entrusted to Luhut starting from Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Minister of KKP replacing Edhy Prabowo, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Deputy Chair of the Covid-19 Handling Committee, and National Economic Recovery (KPC PEN) to Coordinator for the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in Java-Bali.

"The point is that he (Luhut) is someone who is considered Jokowi's confidant. And this is said to not make Mega happy because from the start the relationship was not going well. And we know that two of Jokowi are no longer used, Andi Widjajanto and Rini Soemarno. But Luhut being a trusted person who is constantly not only used but also a right hand even in solving the COVID problem, Luhut is entrusted with it", explained Refly.

Separately, political observer Salim Said smelled a strong effort from President Jokowi to keep Luhut in the cabinet for 2 terms. In fact, continued Salim Said, Megawati as the leader of the winning party supporting Jokowi had a bad relationship with Luhut.

"But one thing that can't be done and forced on Jokowi is Luhut Pandjaitan", said Salim Said via the Youtube channel, @Hersubeno, quoted Monday, August 9.

"Megawati doesn't like him (Luhut). That's why Jokowi has a reason. At first, he wanted to be a minister in the first cabinet in the past. Because Megawati didn't approve of him, she made sense to give birth to the Presidential Chief of Staff of the Republic of Indonesia, which is now occupied by Moeldoko", Salim Said.