Nadiem’s ​​’talisman’ to survive in Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin’s Cabinet

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –

On the commemoration of National Education Day 2021, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked Mendikbudristek Nadiem Makarim regarding breakthroughs in encouraging Indonesian education.

“So there has been a breakthrough?” Jokowi asked suddenly when he heard Nadiem’s ​​presentation in a discussion broadcast on YouTube by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, Sunday (2/5).

And, Nadiem also straightforwardly answered all the policies he had pioneered since he was appointed Minister of Education and Culture in 2019, then was re-appointed as Minister of Education and Research and Technology since Wednesday (28/4).

Nadiem himself had previously been entrusted with leading the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) since 2019 – which has now added a new nomenclature for research and technology due to the merger of the Ministry of Research and Technology.

So far, his performance in leading the Ministry of Education and Culture has often been criticized, thus pushing him into the opinion basket as one of the ministers who will be appointed.reshuffle. This includes when the Ministry of Research and Technology is merged into the Ministry of Education and Culture.

However, again Nadiem survived so that he, who was not from a political party or mass organization, was appointed by Jokowi as the minister to lead the Ministry of Education and Culture.

A number of circles are of the view that Nadiem’s ​​continued position in the cabinet cannot be separated from political games. One of them, when the issue of a reshuffle was raised due to the fusion of the Ministry of Research, Technology and Technology, Nadiem was known to have visited the General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri.

A political observer at Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, said the meeting with Mega could be seen as Nadiem’s ​​attempt to maintain his position in the government.

“Already visiting PDIP, (meeting) Mega is part of defending that position,” Ujang said CNNIndonesia.com, last week.

Other allegations, said Ujang, could be that Nadiem had contributed to Jokowi during the 2019 Presidential Election.

This is because, according to Ujang, ministers from professional circles who have no contribution to winning in the presidential election will easily be reshuffled.

“And Nadiem, although there are many controversies, his work is also not good, there are many criticisms from the public but it is still maintained, these things could make him safe,” he said.

Ujang explained that there are two different contexts in a cabinet reshuffle process. The first is the political context which is subjective. And second, the context of the objective performance appraisal.

“Maintaining Nadiem is part of the political process, it is very subjective from the president himself,” said Ujang.

Behind all these presumptions, Ujang is of the opinion that Nadiem must be able to prove to the public that he is indeed worthy of the position of leading the Ministry of Education and Culture.

“Make breakthroughs that can take a leap in the field of education and research, if mediocre it will also become a public monthly in the future,” said Ujang.

Contacted separately, Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters, Adi Prayitno, also argued that Nadiem’s ​​tenure in the cabinet cannot be separated from political factors.

Moreover, Adi believes that lately the PDIP as the ruling party has also appeared to be defending Nadiem’s ​​performance as minister amid criticism from various parties.

“Nadiem’s ​​safe position cannot be separated from ‘political asylum’ to the PDIP chief. After that, it was the PDIP elite who defended Nadiem’s ​​performance, because if you look at the performance, it is certainly far from expectations,” Adi said.

Adi himself did not want to guess what reasons were related until finally the political parties began to provide support to the former Gojek boss.

Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, visited the head of PDIP, Megawati Soekarnoputri. (Screenshot of instagram @nadiemmakarim)- –

On the other hand, is there a political transactional behind all this, Adi is reluctant to take it too far. According to Adi, the most acceptable reason at this time is probably because Nadiem represents the face of millennials in Jokowi’s cabinet.

“The only reason that can be touched by the public is probably because Nadiem represents young millennial entrepreneurs. This politics of representation seems to be considered important in the second term of the working Cabinet,” said Adi.

Furthermore, Adi said that in the future Nadiem must be able to prove himself worthy and able to work well in his duties as Minister of Education and Research and Technology.

Next page, Nadiem’s ​​answer to the educational breakthrough Jokowi requested …