Luhut Assigned By Jokowi To Manage Cooking Oil, Observer: More Than A Helper, But Beware Of Collusion

JAKARTA - The new assignment of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan by President Joko Widodo to manage cooking oil has brought pros and cons. What we do know is that Luhut already has a myriad of ad hoc positions in this government. Political observer from Paramadina University Hendri Satrio assessed that Jokowi's assignment of Luhut for the umpteenth time indicated that the president had great confidence in this assistant. According to him, the criticism addressed to Luhut would mean nothing if the President was satisfied with the minister's performance. "Jokowi is the president. If Jokowi believes in Luhut, we can't do anything because we see the results," Hendri told VOI, Tuesday, May 23. For example, Hendri continued, when Luhut was assigned to handle COVID-19, many people appreciated it. Therefore, it is possible that the president is optimistic that Luhut can overcome the chaotic problem of cooking oil. "Luhut was assigned to take care of COVID-19, right, done, done, Jokowi is happy. Now told to take care of cooking oil, maybe Luhut will succeed. It just depends on the president," he said. It's just that, said the founder of KedaiKOPI, the question is who Luhut really is. Is he a good presidential aide or a good friend. "If a good assistant, whatever his duties, Mr. Jokowi is accepted and carried out. If a good friend, Mr. Luhut is more than a helper, he dares to put up a body for Mr. Jokowi," said the man who is familiarly called Hensat. Hensat also considered that Luhut needed to be careful if considered a good friend of Jokowi. Because, later there will be those who sneer at this government 'planting the seeds of collusion'. "But be careful this good friend can become seeds that are not liked by reform, called collusion. So Pak Jokowi and Pak Luhut must be careful," urged Hensat . However, Hensat believes that President Jokowi's decision must be supported so that the cooking oil problem is completely resolved so that people no longer encounter high prices. "Overall we have to give encouragement, good luck and work Pak Luhut. Hopefully the cooking oil case can be handled properly and prices will return to normal, down, right now it's still expensive," he said.

As is known, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has again given a special task to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. This time, Luhut was asked to take care of the cooking oil problem. Cooking oil is still a problem because the price is still high and the stock is scarce in the market.

"Suddenly the President (Jokowi) ordered me to take care of cooking oil. So since three days ago, I started dealing with the scarcity of cooking oil," said Luhut when opening the virtual GAMKI 60th Anniversary Peak Celebration, which was broadcast via YouTube. Gamki Balikpapan, Saturday, May 21.

Luhut also hopes that the cooking oil problem will be resolved soon. "We hope that it won't be too long before we finish it," he said.