Ashabul Kahfi Becomes Chairman Of Commission VIII Of The House of Representatives To Replace Yandri Susanto

Ashabul Kahfi/PHOTO: PAN Documentation

JAKARTA - The PAN faction of the House of Representatives (DPR) has appointed Ashabul Kahfi as Chair of Commission VIII to replace Yandri Susanto, who is now the deputy chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Yandri was previously sworn in as chairman of the MPR after President Joko Widodo appointed Zulkifli Hasan as Minister of Trade.

The chairman of the PAN faction of the DPR, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, said that Ashabul Kahfi was a senior PAN politician who had served as chairman of the DPRD for 3 terms in South Sulawesi. So far, he has served as chairman of the South Sulawesi Regional Representative Council for 4 terms.

"If he has experience managing a party, that's enough. Even though he is firm and swift, he is a patient person. He is easy to talk to and discuss", Saleh told reporters, Wednesday, July 20.

Kahfi is also known as an activist since he was a student and is an IMM cadre. His experience as a member of a community organization, said Saleh, cannot be doubted.

"Pak Kahfi was a Muhammadiyah cadre. His late father was a highly respected Kiai Muhammadiyah. In South Sulawesi, God willing, he is already very well known", said the North Sumatran legislator.

Saleh said, PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan felt Kahfi was very appropriate to replace Yandri as chairman of Commission VIII. Apart from the Muhammadiyah element, Kahfi also accommodates cadres from Eastern Indonesia.

"So all can. Including the equal distribution and distribution of cadres in the Equipment for the House of Representatives (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia", said the member of Commission IX of the DPR.

Saleh said the decision had been consulted with the PAN Central Executive Board. In this case, the PAN faction has been given the blessing to change the leadership of Commission VIII of the DPR.

"God willing, they will be sworn in as soon as the trial period opens. This is still in recess. Apart from waiting for the commission VIII hajj team to be on duty in Saudi, we are also waiting for another trial period", Saleh explained.

"It is hoped that Commission VIII will be better at overseeing government activities and programs", he added.