Not Yet A Week As Minister Of Trade, Zulhas Throws Cooking Oil Affairs To Luhut, This Politician Laughs Long

Zulkifli Hasan alias Zulhas was appointed Minister of Trade on 15 June. (Between)

JAKARTA - Zulkifli Hasan alias Zulhas, less than a week into his position as Minister of Trade, handed over the completion of bulk cooking oil to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

The Democrat Party politician Cipta Panca Laksana responded to the attempt to 'throw' the issue of Trade Minister Zulhas to Luhut. Not saying much, Panca only responded with a long laugh.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha," said Panca commenting on Zulhas's actions via his Twitter account, @panca66, Friday night, June 17.

Zulhas has just been sworn in as Minister of Trade through a reshuffle on Wednesday 15 June.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) entrusted the post formerly held by Muhammad Luthfi to Zulhas. Zulhas was also asked by the head of state to immediately resolve the unfinished cooking oil problem.

This was conveyed by Zulhas at the Ministry of Trade after being sworn in by Jokowi at the Jakarta Presidential Palace.

"The assignment is (cooking oil). 'Please, Mr. Zul, with your background, who likes being down, understands micro, retail and details about food, cooking oil, etc.' .

In addition to the cooking oil issue, Zulhas admitted that he was asked by Jokowi to stabilize the food supply in the country. Especially now, he said, food has become a global issue.

"Therefore, the focus is on trade and food availability in the country, including cooking oil," he said.

On the task that Jokowi has assigned to him, Zulhas is confident. The former chairman of the MPR said he would maximize himself to overcome various problems that existed in the remaining term of office.

"I have experience in government, I was Commission VI in 2004, trading partners," he said.