AHY-Moeldoko Finally Greeted, Called Jokowi's Big Role

Minister of ATR/Head of BPN Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (both right) shook hands with the Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko (left) witnessed by the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya (left second)

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia political observer Cecep Hidayat said that the meeting and shaking of hands between the Chairman of the Democratic Party who is also Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) and Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko at the State Palace in Jakarta, last Monday, could not be separated from the big role of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"Here, Mr. Jokowi is a representation, yes, what he said was a bridge for all different politicians. However, he actually designed it," Cecep said when quoted by ANTARA from Jakarta, Tuesday, February 27.

Cecep explained that Jokowi also played a strong role in uniting AHY and Moeldoko, who were previously involved in a dispute over the management of the Democratic Party.

"When the Democrats entered the cabinet, finally they were accommodated into the cabinet by Jokowi, that was the president's prerogative. Like it or not, Moeldoko, even though he had a conflict with AHY, finally accepted AHY too. So, Jokowi's role is strong to unite the two parties who have clashed," he said.

Meanwhile, Moeldoko said that the meeting and shaking hands between himself and AHY were common to fellow cabinet partners.

Moeldoko emphasized that party management disputes that had involved him and AHY should not interfere with work in government.

"The work remains uninterrupted. There is no reason whatsoever, we are talking about the effectiveness of the government," said Moeldoko in Jakarta, Monday.

Moeldoko also said that he was ready to invite AHY as the Minister of ATR/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) for a joint meeting with KSP related to public complaints about land.

On a separate occasion, AHY said that he did shake hands with all levels of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, including Moeldoko.

AHY considers the shaking as a normal thing to maintain a relationship between himself as the new minister and the ranks of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.

He stated that he was ready to coordinate or have a meeting with KSP in the future. In addition, he emphasized that he wanted to be a complete part of the government.

"I don't want to exaggerate what has passed. Because if that is the case, it means not moving forward. What is clear is that we have gone through a part of the political journey of the Democratic Party as well," he said.

According to him, the dispute over the management of his party is a valuable thing to be used as a lesson.