By: Dahlan Iskan
The SIX new ministers were all interesting. The basketball trio reunite in the cabinet. Initially, the trio had a different path – in the last presidential election. Erick Thohir joins President Jokowi. Sandiaga Uno became the opposite political opponent. Muhammad Lutfi took a neutral position.
Now, after last Tuesday’s cabinet reshuffle, the trio are reuniting. Erick remains minister of BUMN, Lutfi becomes minister of trade and Sandi is minister of tourism and creative economy.
Those are three friends of the same age from the new generation of Indonesia. Both rich people, both young, both American graduates and both basketball fans.
They are also both Muslims – from the generation of American Muslims. Very tolerant. That which “ gets rich ” is just as important as faith.
It’s just a little less than ideal. If only Sandi could be in the ministry of industry, actually the trio would be the center of Indonesia’s new economic revival: BUMN (State-owned enterprises) -Trade-Industry.
However, in the political world expecting all ideals is also unrealistic. That Sandi already wants to enter the cabinet is extraordinary. There must be a lobby that is very moving: until Sandi is willing to enter the cabinet.
That was Sandi’s insistence on staying outside the cabinet. To be able to care for his followers who have grown up among young people.
However, the followers themselves were already dividing. Especially since Prabowo – Sandi’s partner in the very tough presidential election last year – joined President Jokowi in the Advanced Indonesia cabinet.
I imagine it was Erick and Lutfi who seduced Sandi. For the sake of reuniting the trio and also for the advancement of Indonesia.
Lutfi himself, the head of BKPM and the minister of trade during the era of President SBY, finally got the right position. For him and for Indonesia.
It has been such a long time since the trade ministry has turned into political commerce. Complete with import fee issues for all kinds of commodities.
Now, the ministry has returned to its rightful hands: Lutfi.
That Sandi handles tourism and the creative economy is actually too small. But, once Covid-19 is gone, this sector is our mainstay. Sandi also seems to have no problem partnering with the deputy minister – the daughter of conglomerate Hary Tanoesoedibjo.
What is also very interesting about this reshuffle is the appearance of Budi Gunadi Sadikin. He became minister of health. He’s not a doctor. He has a degree in nuclear physics. He’s a banker.
It has long been an idea that the minister of health does not have to be a doctor. In fact, it’s best not to come from a doctor for a while.
Being held as not a doctor may be fairer for doctors – none of the factions get it. Ti-ji-ti-beh.
And again, what matters most in a ministerial position is his managerial ability. Budi can do it. After all, he was assisted by the deputy minister who was a doctor, namely Dr. dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono. Internal medicine specialist from UI. With a doctorate from Japan.
Doctor Dante also has excellent managerial skills. He is involved in Pertamedika – a hospital group under Pertamina which is now the holding company for all state-owned hospitals.
Budi Sadikin’s achievements were very prominent when he became President Director of Bank Mandiri. Then, he became the legendary president director of Inalum – who became the locomotive for the Freeport takeover. Budi Sadikin was the mastermind and operator of the Freeport takeover.
So, it is very fitting that later he became the deputy minister of BUMN and now the minister – how funny – the Minister of Health.
In the midst of a pandemic, dealing with managerial health is very important. Budi’s brain is immense to accommodate and analyze this complex and ego-filled field.
Doctors themselves have talked about this for a long time: even for the position of director of a hospital, it doesn’t have to be a doctor. But, it has to be a great manager – who he can be a doctor.
I don’t think it’s fair to write about this. Shhhhhh …. I am the first person, not an engineer, to become Managing Director of PLN.
What I also did not expect was the appointment of Sakti Wahyu Trenggono to become minister of marine and fisheries.
He is a pure businessman. His line of business is Telkom tower. He is the owner of the largest tower in Indonesia. Looks like it’s not playing.
Trenggono has long been rationed as minister. His role in winning President Jokowi is huge. Since the first period.
In fact, Trenggono was suddenly summoned back from Australia so that he could be appointed as the Minister of state-owned enterprises.
In fact, it was Rini Soemarno who was appointed.
In President Jokowi’s second term, Trenggono finally entered the cabinet – even though he was the Deputy Minister of Defense.
But, at least Trenggono has ‘trained’ to become a bureaucrat so that he won’t be surprised anymore that being a minister is like ‘a tall tree that rarely bears fruit’.
The tree is tall which means the wind is blowing hard. It seldom bore fruit because the Minister had a small salary. The facilities are not luxurious. It was nothing if the measure was his current wealth. So, what else is corruption for?
However, this field is new to Trenggono, but what matters is managerial skills, leadership, and a clean heart.
Of course he is capable of leadership and managerial skills, however, only he knows about the cleanliness of the heart himself.
No less interesting is the appointment of the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini. But, Risma deserved the position. I certainly know exactly what she is capable of and his commitment. Especially to the little people.
She’s a very accomplished mayor. Surabaya city modifier. Naturally, regional heads who have great achievements receive adequate promotions.
And … finally about the minister of religion. Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. It is a symbol of the return of the Ministry of Religion to NU.
This is a big problem in this country. It is also a big hope for NU. Especially when NU felt that it had completely won President Jokowi’s second term. How come the ministry of religion was given to General Fachrul Razi. To the extent that the Chairman of PB NU, Prof. Dr. Said Aqil Siroj, seemed to sulk all over President Jokowi. Especially how come he didn’t enter the cabinet. Moreover, how come the ministry of religion is handed over to someone else.
Yaqut himself did not expect to become minister of religion. She felt that her brother had a better chance: Yahya C Staquf. And indeed, it was his brother who got an offer to become minister of religion, but his brother refused.
His older brother – who was once the spokesman for President Gus Dur – has other activities that he considers more noble, namely bringing the Indonesian Islamic model to the world. He wants to change the face of Islam around the world into a tolerant Islam. Because of that, Staquf had to go to Israel – amidst the anti-Israeli emotions of the Islamic world.
Staquf felt that by becoming minister, his work would be more limited.
So, the younger brother was appointed to become a minister. Both of them are caretakers of an Islamic boarding school which is a legacy of their ancestors in Rembang when their father died – KH Cholil Bisri – both of whom lead the pesantren in Rembang, Central Java. Together with their famous uncle: KH Mustofa Bisri – the kiai who is also the famous poet.
Mustofa Bisri has a son-in-law who is also famous: Ulil Absar Abdala, who I often follow his recitation on YouTube, which discusses the philosophical book Ihya Ulumuddin, Imam Al Ghazali’s great work.
KH Mustofa Bisri’s father was a great kiai. His name: KH Bisri Mustofa, the last son of a kiai in Rembang, KH Mustofa Bisri. The three generations of names are the same: only reversed.
The new Minister of Religion certainly has a big challenge for himself, namely how to change from belonging to one group to belonging to all groups. Also how to serve one group to all groups.
Maybe GP Ansor and Banser – the youth organization of NU – will keep him as their chairman. I know Ansor loves him very much. When he came to my house, there were dozens of Banser escorting him.
But, of course Yaqut knew that it was not wise. He is a graduate of sociology at the University of Indonesia. He does not need to be taught to understand the sociology of the nation.
Moreover, the deputy minister of religion was already already NU.
Rembang has now become a new orientation in the field of religious thought. Islamic culture in Rembang seems to have developed very moderately for a long time. Civilizations in Rembang and its surroundings – including Lasem and Juwana – are quite old.
Rembang was once the center of civilization in the past. When the region developed first. Even economically. Including the occurrence of intense cultural intersections between Chinese, Islam and Javanese. The heritage of advanced Chinese culture is around this Rembang.
So, a young scholar who is very popular and flexible today also comes from Rembang: Gus Baha ‘, whose followers on YouTube are countless – including me.
As a result, the reshuffled cabinet is much better than before. It remains fate that determines whether we can become a nation with good fortune.
(Dahlan Iskan)
