Jokowi Appoints Erick Thohir As Coordinating Minister For Ad-Interim Marves To Replace Luhut Pandjaitan

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed SOE Minister Erick Thohir to become Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Ad-Interim to temporarily replace Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan who is undergoing medical treatment.

"Because currently Mr. LBP (Luhut Binsar Panjaitan) Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is undergoing medical treatment, President Jokowi has appointed Erick Thohir, Minister of SOEs as Coordinating Minister for Ad-Interimating Maritime Affairs," said Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Joko Widodo, AAGN Ari Dwipayana, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 11.

Luhut Pandjaitan, through his personal Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Tuesday (10/10), explained that he was advised by doctors to rest for several days. Luhut's health condition suddenly weakened after attending an activity.

"Suddenly I felt very tired. This fatigue was not what I used to feel after work," said Luhut. Luhut was then taken by his wife to a hospital in Jakarta for further preventive action. With such a health condition, Luhut was not allowed by a team of doctors for activities as usual.

After receiving an offer from his colleague, Senior Minister of Singapore Teo Chee Hean and Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakhrisnan, Luhut decided to undergo the recovery stage in Singapore, as well as conduct a more comprehensive medical and evaluation examination.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to President Jokowi, who has given a team of presidential doctors and nurses to take care of me until I reach the current condition that has improved," said Luhut Pandjaitan.