Rieke Diah Pitaloka Dismissed From Deputy Chair Of Baleg, PDIP Assigns M Nurdin To Guard Ciptaker Omnibus Law Bill

Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI Baleg Rieke Diah Pitaloka (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PDI-P Faction, Utut Adianto, said that the removal of Rieke Diah Pitaloka from the position of Deputy Chair of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI was not only for refreshment. However, because in the near future the DPR RI Baleg will have a tough job, namely discussing the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill. Rieke's successor, assigned to escort the heavy duty.

"This change is certainly not just for refreshment or regular rotation. We know that in the near future Baleg will be full of tough tasks. If we look at the Omnibus Law, it is approaching crucial points," said Utut in a press conference at Gedung. Parliament, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, 9 July.

The PDIP faction has sent a letter to the Secretariat General and the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI regarding the removal. Rieke was replaced by M. Nurdin.

According to Utut, Nurdin is considered to be more competent in overseeing this bill because he has a background as a former North Sumatra Police Chief.

"Does this mean that Mbak Rieke is considered incapable? No. But this is indeed the sequence that we have to increase troops internally according to their fields," he said.

"We give the highest appreciation to Mbak Rieke Diah Pitaloka because she has struggled all out but this is the stage for replacing people who may be more to guard things like this," added Utut.

The PDI-P faction is paying more attention to the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill, which is President Joko Widodo's flagship program.

Secretary of the PDIP faction of the DPR RI, Bambang Wuryanto, said the party bearing the bull symbol placed its best team in the DPR RI Baleg during the discussion process.

"Because of that, of course we are looking for people who understand the articles and have high discipline who understand the articles and have high discipline. That is Muhammad Nurdin," he said, adding that it is not impossible that this kind of rotation will happen again.

"Rotations are also carried out from time to time, for example when they enter Chapter 10, the baleg troops will shift from members of the baleg. There is a shift in Commission XI and VI to be played, for example," he added.

Not because of the HIP Bill polemic

On that occasion, Bambang denied the assumption that Rieke was replaced due to the HIP Bill polemic in the community. It is known that Rieke also served as Chair of the Working Committee on the HIP Bill which was being discussed at the DPR RI Baleg.

"It was cleared (not because of the HIP Bill, red). The ball of the HIP Bill is now in the government. We are waiting for the government. If the government says it doesn't want to discuss it, this is an item," he said.

Currently, Bambang stated that Rieke will be assigned to Commission VI of the DPR RI to oversee the performance of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). Moreover, currently BUMN Minister Erick is streamlining his ministry.

"Mbak Rieke is so focused on being good, boss. That has been proven in the field. So don't ever think that Mbak Rieke is wrong to be removed, that's wrong," he said.

The PDIP faction may be evasive if Rieke's removal is not related to the HIP Bill. However, a political observer from the University of Al-Azhar Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that the dismissal occurred because Rieke was deemed unable to guard the HIP Bill.

"There will be no rotation if there are no mistakes. It is possible that Rieke was initially assigned by his party to guard the HIP Bill. However, because the task failed, it ended with the removal of his position from the leadership of the DPR RI Baleg," said Ujang to VOI, Thursday, July 9.

He is of the opinion that if this removal is done to save the image of the PDIP from the HIP Bill polemic, it will not have an effect. According to him, this removal was actually to warn other party cadres.

"(This removal, red) serves as a warning to other cadres that if they fail to carry out the party's mission, the position is at stake," he concluded.