JAKARTA. Rumours circulating that President Joko Widodo will re-appoint Arcandra Tahar as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. Recently, Caretaker of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, who is also Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan has several times given signs that the new energy minister will be appointed immediately to replace him.  President Joko Widodo has not yet apppointed definite a new energy minister since Arcandra Tahar was removed from the position on August 2015.

“I think President will make a decision soon”, Luhut said at University of Indonesia on Wednesday (7/9). 

Luhut claimed that he only has seven days left before leaving his position as care taker of energy minister. He admitted being tired from holding double positions as energy minister and coordinating minister for maritime affairs.

According to Luhut, President Joko Widodo must have picked a candidate from professionals to fill the position of energy minister. However, he refused to the comment further about this matter and rumors about the re-appointment Arcandra as energy minister.

Become Indonesian citizen

Source of Kontan in Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources mentioned that Arcandra will be re-appointed as the minister. “He will be re-appointed on 15 September”, the source told Kontan.

The rumors were sparked after Ministry of Law and Human Rights on 1 September 2016 decided to give Indonesian citizenship to Arcandra Tahar. Therefore, as an Indonesian citizen, Arcandra is eligible to hold the position of energy minister.

However, Presidential Spokeperson Johan Budi Sapto Prabowo cannot confirm about the decision of Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

Previously, Arcandra dual citizenship (Indonesian and American) had triggered controversy that followed by his dismissal from his position as energy minister on 15 August 2016, or only 26 days after his appointment.

Arcandra has been living in the United States of America (the US) for many years. Information have it that Arcandra held American citizenship while Indonesian law does not allow dual nationality.

After Arcandra dismissal, President Joko Widodo appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan to have double positions as Caretaker of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources until president appoints the definitive energy minister.

If the information about re-appointment Arcandra as energy minister is proven true, President Joko Widodo may face another criticism over the decision. (Translator: Muhammad Farid)

Editor: Sanny Cicilia