Palace denies negligence in Arcandra's appointment

JAKARTA. The State Palace has rejected allegations that the decision to dismiss Arcandra Tahar from his post as energy and mineral resources minister was a result of negligence in the selection process.

Presidential spokesman Johan Budi reiterated State Secretary Pratikno’s statement that Arcandra’s dismissal was a response to controversy regarding the minister’s alleged dual citizenship.

“Don’t look at it that way [administrative negligence]. But see it as the President being responsive to issues that arise [....] the President also obtained information and data from various parties, and the result was the President decided to dismiss him with honor,” Johan said at the State Palace on Monday night after a brief announcement by Pratikno.

The President has appointed Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan as acting energy and mineral resources minister until a new minister is appointed.

State law expert from Gadjah Mada University, Denny Indrayana, told The Jakarta Post that many state institutions were responsible for doing background checks on candidates for ministerial posts. “They include the State Secretariat, the State Intelligence Agency, the police, the immigration office, the Law and Human Rights Ministry,” he said.

Denny, who served as a member of the presidential staff during Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration, said the confidential manner of ministerial appointments posed a challenge for the presidential office in carrying out fast and thorough background checks. (Ayomi Amindoni)