The Palace Explains Why Tito Karnavian Was Appointed As MenPAN-RB Ad Interim

Minister of the Interior Tito Karnavian. ANTARA/Boyke Ledy Watra

JAKARTA - The appointment of the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian, as the ad interim Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (MenPAN RB) to keep government functions running.

"This ad interim is not the Acting (Acting Task), usually if there is a foreign visit of a minister, sick, and others unable to attend, there is always an ad interim. The goal is to keep government functions running for a very limited period", said the Special Staff of the Minister of State Secretary, Faldo Maldini, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 5, quoted from Antara.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has indeed chosen Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian as the ad interim MenPAN RB to fill the position left by Tjahjo Kumolo who died on Friday, July 1.

The appointment was based on a letter from the Minister of State Secretariat Number B-596/M/D-3/AN.00.03/07/2022 which was signed by the Minister of State Secretary Pratikno dated July 4, 2022.

The letter stated that Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian served as ad interim Minister of PAN RB from July 4 to 15, 2022.

"Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul, was Ad Interim Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and even Minister of Industry for three days. Minister of Investment Bahlil also served as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources when Mr. Arifin tested positive for COVID-19. This is very normal, of course, taking into account various factors", said Faldo.

Faldo said that President Jokowi had not yet appointed a definitive MenPAN-RB until now.

"Currently, we are all still in an atmosphere of mourning. We must be sensitive, the most important thing is that all government functions can run well. We will make sure of that", said Faldo.

Before Tito, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD, was appointed as the ad-interim MenPAN RB.

Tjahjo Kumolo died at Abdi Waluyo Hospital, Central Jakarta on Friday last week, after receiving intensive care for 13 days. The body of the deceased was buried militarily at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery on Friday, July 1 afternoon.