PKS Reminds Joko Agus Setyono DKI Regional Secretary Jokowi's Choice To Maintain Neutrality

JAKARTA - Secretary of the PKS faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Muhammad Taufik Zoelkifli reminded Joko Agus Setyono to carry out his duties as the Regional Secretary (Sekda) of DKI Jakarta who was chosen by President Joko Widodo by maintaining his neutrality as ASN.

Taufik emphasized that Joko must be able to accommodate the suggestions and wishes of all factions in the DKI DPRD, starting from the PDIP, Gerindra, PKS, PAN, Democrats, PSI, Golkar, NasDem, and PKB-PPP.

"What Pak Joko has to avoid is not being neutral or taking sides too heavily. This DPRD is a collection of factions. Just proportionately accommodate the wishes of the DPRD. Indeed, the council is a political institution. So, don't take sides with certain groups or factions, " said Taufik when contacted, Thursday, February 16.

According to Taufik, Joko's background, who was previously an official at the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), has indeed become a plus for him in terms of managing the regional budgeting process in an accountable manner.

However, not enough there. Taufik emphasized that Joko must also be able to establish good communication with members of the DPRD DKI Jakarta as partners who represent Jakarta residents.

"The selected regional secretary has experience with budget issues, which is good. However, the most important thing is communication with the DPRD. Hopefully, he can learn quickly, because the most important thing for a regional secretary, especially in DKI Jakarta, is communication with DPRD, especially development budget issues. " he explained.

As is known, Joko's appointment as Regional Secretary of DKI was contained in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 13/TPA of 2023 concerning the Appointment of Middle High Leadership Officials in the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) signed by Jokowi on 13 February 2023.

Joko replaces the position of Acting Regional Secretary of DKI Uus Kuswanto who is also the Assistant for People's Welfare of the DKI Provincial Secretariat who was appointed since December 2, 2022.

In the first stage of the DKI Regional Secretary position selection, 10 names of echelon II officials appeared who passed the administrative selection. Joko's name is the most foreign compared to other candidates. The nine bidders for positions are DKI Jakarta Provincial Government officials. Meanwhile, Joko is the only external official in the capital.

Various stages of selection passed. Until the final stage, namely the interview with the selection committee, three names remained. The name Joko survives. These three names were brought by the DKI Provincial Government to the Palace to be chosen by Jokowi, one of them, to be inaugurated by Heru on Wednesday, February 15.

When elected, Joko aborted two other DKI Regional Secretary selection candidates who also passed a number of selection stages, namely Dhany Sukma who is currently the Mayor of Central Jakarta, and Michael Rolandi Cesnanta Brata who is currently the Head of the DKI Jakarta Regional Asset Management Agency.

Joko was born in Kebumen, December 11, 1968. He has led BPK several times at the regional level. He has served as Head of the Secretariat of the BPK Representative for East Java since 2014, Then Head of the BPK Representative for the Riau Islands Province from 2017-2018.

Furthermore, Joko has served as Head of BPK West Kalimantan since 2020. Then, he has assumed the position of Head of BPK Representative for East Java in 2020, and Head of BPK Representative for Bali Province since 2022.