Luhut Accused Of Hoax, Luhut Criticized, Luhut Asked To Resign, And Luhut Gets New Position

President Jokowi's decision to appoint Luhut Binsar Panjaitan as Head of National Water Resources / Photo: Press Bureau of the Presidential Palace

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has again been trusted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to assume an important position after spreading big data-related issues that 110 million people want the 2024 election to be postponed and to extend President Jokowi's term.

President Jokowi also firmly rebuked ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet not to discuss the discourse anymore. In fact, Member of the DPR from the PDIP Fraction, Masinton Pasaribu, asked Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to immediately resign from his position. The reason is that Luhut has spread false information or hoaxes related to people's data who want to postpone the 2024 Election.

"When there was a wave of rejection of the extension of the presidential term of office. Finally, President Jokowi reiterated firmly and clearly that there is no plan to postpone the election or extend the presidential term," Masinton said in his statement. The PDIP politician called Jokowi's attitude a responsibility. a leader takes over the mess his subordinates make. Masinton also referred to his assistant as being arrogant and acting as he pleased. "President Jokowi's chivalrous attitude is a form of responsibility for a leader to take over the actions of his subordinates who are arrogant and arbitrary to the people," he continued.

However, despite reprimanding Luhut for making students all over Indonesia take to the streets refusing to extend their term of office, President Jokowi actually "rewarded" Luhut with a new position, namely Chairman of the National Water Resources Council (SDA). This is stated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 53/2022 concerning the National Water Resources Council which was signed by President Jokowi on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

As it turned out, Luhut's position as Chairman of the National SDA Council shifted the position of Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. Thus, this is the umpteenth time that Luhut has shifted the positions of several Jokowi ministers to take over their duties and responsibilities.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) considers the president's decision to again give Luhut a position, is really unhealthy and makes Jokowi look even weaker. "This is unhealthy. In a presidential system, absolute power is in the hands of the president. missions of ministers, including the coordinating minister. There are visions and missions of the President," said PKS DPP chairman Mardani Ali Sera. According to Mardani, Luhut who holds many positions can actually damage the rhythm of ministerial solidarity. Because, he said, each ministry has its own main task and focus. "All of the ministry's powers have their own main tasks and focus. The presence of one minister who is seen entering many ministries can damage the rhythm of work and damage solidarity," he said.

Moreover, the member of Commission II of the DPR said that there was a one-man show tendency by re-appointing Luhut to other positions in the government.

"It is increasingly forming the impression of a weak President. Management can do it, but it does not build team solidity. The one man show tendency is not healthy for the organization," said Mardani.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party Fadli Zon called Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan like Menkosaurus or the Coordinating Minister for All Affairs.

"The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs seems to be very trusted by the President. Some even call him Menkosaurus (Coordinating Minister for All Affairs)," said Fadli Zon, Saturday, April 9.

This DPR member from the West Java electoral district sees Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as having a very central role in Jokowi's government. In fact, he said, the push for Jokowi's extension of office is also suspected to be inseparable from Luhut's involvement.

"The role of the LBP feels very central in the government, like the prime minister. In fact, it seems that he is among those who encourage the extension or addition of the President's term of office," he said.

However, Fadli Zon continues to criticize the re-election of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to the new position. He questioned Luhut's performance in his own field.

"It should only be in accordance with the main duties and functions. Evaluation can also be easy. For example, whether the investment that is touted has indeed been realized or is it just numbers. Have the development of the maritime sector, sea highways, and so on been achieved. Don't take too many positions but the results are minimal or no at all," concluded Fadli Zon.

The following are the positions of Luhut Pandjaitan during President Jokowi's tenure in 2014 - now.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut has served as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment from 2019 until now. Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator During the Covid-19 pandemic, Luhut took on additional duties as the Java-Bali PPKM Coordinator. Luhut was appointed by Jokowi at the end of June 2021 as the coordinator for the implementation of restrictions on community activities or the Java-Bali Emergency PPKM. In addition, Luhut was also appointed as Deputy Chair of the Covid-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) Team. The Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the 15 Priority Lake Rescue Team, Luhut, was appointed by Jokowi as Chair of the Steering Committee for the National Priority Lake Rescue Team. This council was formed by Jokowi based on Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 60/2021 concerning Saving National Priority Lakes. Its duties include providing direction and achievements, monitoring and evaluating, as well as fostering and supervising national priority lake rescue strategies. The chairman of the Proudly Made in Indonesia Gernas Team Luhut is also trusted by Jokowi as the chairman of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (BBI) team. Gernas BBI is a movement to strengthen the branding of domestic MSME products and expand market access through digital sales. Chairman of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail Committee Luhut was also appointed as Chairman of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail Committee. The appointment is enshrined in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 93 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of the Implementation of Fast Train Infrastructure and Facilities between Jakarta and Bandung. The chairman of the P3DN Jokowi National Team also appointed Luhut as the head of the National Team for Increasing the Use of Domestic Production (P3DN) in 2018. Luhut's appointment was ratified through Presidential Decree No. 24 of 2018. The task of this team, Luhut, is to monitor the use of domestic production since the planning stage in the procurement of goods and services carried out by government agencies, including BUMN and BUMD. Chairman of the National SDA CouncilPresident Joko Widodo or Jokowi formed the National Water Resources Council or National Natural Resources Council which is regulated by Presidential Regulation or Presidential Regulation Number 53 of 2022. Jokowi also appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to lead this new organization.