Idrus’ Decision to Resign Gets Prompt Response

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Idrus Marham gestures as he prepares to answer questions from reporters after submitting his resignation letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Friday (24/8/2018). Idrus decided to step down as social affairs minister after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) issued a notification letter to launch an investigation against him in a corruption allegation surrounding a contract agreement on a power plant construction project in Riau.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Idrus Marham became the first minister in President Joko Widodo’s administration to step down amid a corruption allegation. As reports of his possible involvement in a corruption case spread, Idrus decided to step down as social affairs minister, a position that he held since Jan. 18, 2018. Idrus was later replaced by Golkar Party colleague Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

Idrus conveyed his wish to resign in his meeting with the President on Friday (24/8/2018) morning at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. He made the decision one day after receiving an SPDP notification letter from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), stating that it would launch an investigation into him in relation to corruption allegations surrounding a contract agreement for a power plant project in Riau.

Idrus said he decided to step down as minister as he did not want to disrupt the government and that he wanted to maintain the President’s dignity. “It would be unethical for me, for instance, to remain in the Cabinet if I am named as suspect. It is morally unacceptable,” he said on Friday.

Besides, Idrus said, he wanted to concentrate on facing the legal case that had ensnared him.

Former Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng took a similar step in December 2012 after the KPK issued a request to the law and human rights minister to prevent him from going abroad. In its official request, the KPK named Andi a suspect in a corruption case.

Meanwhile, a number of other ministers resigned from the Cabinet only after the KPK officially announced them as suspects.

Urgent

Just four hours after Idrus tendered his resignation, President Joko Widodo appointed Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita to replace him as minister.

The President said the replacement was made quickly as the Social Affairs Ministry had to deal with urgent matters, including post-disaster management in West Nusa Tenggara. The 2019 Family Hope Program (PKH) should also be prepared soon.

As Idrus hails from the Golkar Party, so must his replacement. Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto said that Agus was the only figure the party proposed to replace Idrus.

Airlangga said he appreciated Idrus’ move to step down from his position as party institution division coordinator in the Golkar Party. On Friday, Kahar Muzakir was appointed to the position to replace Idrus.

House of Representatives speaker Bambang Soesatyo also said that he appreciated Idrus’ decision. “I respect Idrus for his act of statesmanship. He announced his updated status [in the corruption case] and his resignation, both from the Cabinet and the Golkar Party, on his own,” he said.

Cooperation

The case that ensnared Idrus began with the arrest of House Commission VII deputy chair Eni Maulani Saragih by the KPK on July 13, 2018. Eni was arrested when she was at Idrus’ house, allegedly for accepting bribes in connection to the construction of the Mulut Tambang Riau 1 Power Plant in Riau. At the time, the KPK also arrested several others, including Johannes Budisutrisno Kotjo, a shareholder in the energy company Blackgold Natural Resources. Eni and Kotjo were later named suspects.

In its investigation, the KPK questioned Idrus three times as a witness.

KPK deputy chairwoman Basaria Panjaitan said Idrus was alleged to be involved in the corruption. “IM [Idrus] is alleged to have been promised with the same amount of money as EMS [Eni], namely US$1.5 million. JBK [Kotjo] made that promise in return of the successful implementation of a purchase power agreement [PPA} at the Riau 1 Power Plant,” Basaria explained.

The investigation into Idrus was launched on Aug. 21, 2018. The SPDP for him was sent on Aug. 23.

Idrus is alleged to have been involved in pushing for the PPA to be signed in the power plant construction project. On January this year, Blackgold Natural Resources received a letter of intent (LOI) for the project and this led to the signing of the PPA in July-August 2018.

In the case, Eni is alleged to have accepted Rp 6.25 billion (US$428,635.81) in several phases, namely in November-December 2017, March 2018 and June 2018. “It is alleged that IM [Idrus] received portion of the money given to EMS [Eni]. So, he knew about the money and he received a portion of it,” Basaria said.

(NTA/INA/E05/IAN)