Joko Agus Setyono, DKI Regional Secretary Chosen By Jokowi, Breaking Tradition

Joko Agus Setyono (Screenshot of Tribun Pontianak Youtube)

JAKARTA - Not many thought that Joko Agus Setyono would be chosen by President Joko Widodo to become DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary (Sekda) in the final results of the position selection held by the selection committee two months ago.

Joko's appointment as Regional Secretary of DKI was stipulated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 13/TPA of 2023 concerning the Appointment of Middle High Leadership Officials in DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) signed by Jokowi on 13 February 2023.

In the first stage of selection, 10 names of echelon II officials appeared who passed the administrative selection. Joko's name is the most foreign compared to other candidates. The nine bidders for positions are DKI Jakarta Provincial Government officials. Meanwhile, Joko served as Head of the Bali Provincial Representative Office of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

Various stages of selection passed. Until the final stage, namely the interview with the selection committee, three names remained. The name Joko survives. These three names were brought by the DKI Provincial Government to the Palace to be chosen by Jokowi, one of them, to be inaugurated by the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono.

When elected, Joko aborted two other DKI Regional Secretary selection candidates who also passed a number of selection stages, namely Dhany Sukma who is currently the Mayor of Central Jakarta, and Michael Rolandi Cesnanta Brata who is currently the Head of the DKI Jakarta Regional Asset Management Agency.

Joko was born in Kebumen, December 11, 1968. He has led BPK several times at the regional level. He has served as Head of the Secretariat of the BPK Representative for East Java since 2014, Then Head of the BPK Representative for the Riau Islands Province in 2017-2018.

Furthermore, Joko has served as Head of BPK West Kalimantan since 2020. Then, he has assumed the position of Head of BPK Representative for East Java in 2020, and Head of BPK Representative for Bali Province since 2022.

The appointment of Joko to become the number one ASN official in Jakarta broke the "tradition" of the post of DKI Regional Secretary which has been filled by internal officials of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

Prior to Joko, the DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary was held by Marullah Matali with a term of office from January 18 2021 to December 2, 2022. Marullah started his ASN position as a staff at the DKI Jakarta Provincial Mental Spiritual Development Bureau to the Mayor of South Jakarta, before finally being appointed as Deputy Governor for Culture and Tourist.

Stepping back, the DKI Regional Secretary was held by Saefullah from 11 July 2014 to 16 September 2020. Saefullah also served as Mayor of Central Jakarta. Prior to Saefullah, the DKI Regional Secretary was held by Fadjar Panjaitan from 5 October 2020 to 8 April 2013. Fadjar started his career starting as a sub-district staff in Jakarta to Assistant Secretary of DKI Jakarta in Government Affairs.

Previously, the DKI Regional Secretary was held by Muhayat from 18 March 2008 to 5 October 2010. Muhayat also served as Mayor of Central Jakarta. Muhayat replaces Ritola Tasmaya who has served as Regional Secretary for DKI since 2003. Ritola Tasmaya herself, before becoming Regional Secretary for DKI, had served as Head of the DKI Regional Development Planning Agency.

Prior to that, the DKI Regional Secretary was held by Fauzi Bowo from 1998 to 2022. Fauzi Bowo, before becoming Regional Secretary and participating in the DKI regional elections, also served as Head of the DKI Tourism Office. Before Fauzi Bowo, the DKI Regional Secretary was held by Harun Al Rasyid with a term of office from 1993-1997. Harun previously served as Mayor of South Jakarta.