Read also: Gen. Luhut: Jokowi’s much hated and loved COVID-19 frontman

Luhut, the coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister, might be too quick sometimes or too open and direct at other times, but that is the personality of the man who most of the time does a good job for the country. I wish there were many more personalities like him in the government.

And the style of Purba, mockingly and lightly raising some of the things that Pak Luhut has never done is not accurate journalism, to say the least. For instance, it is simply not true that he asked then-president Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri, to retain him as trade minister, or that he is a ‘’nemesis” (enemy) of Prabowo Subianto, whose supporters hate Luhut. In fact, he has been a good friend and colleague of Prabowo since they were in the Army's Special Forces over 30 years ago.

What is Luhut’s ambition in serving the government and President Jokowi? He knows he has only a few years of service left to the state and the nation. As a soldier and an officer, he explained to me that his only ambition in life now is to serve. To serve his people, his nation and his government, through serving President Jokowi.

He lives quite modestly and he loves his family uppermost. But he is high up and tall trees always catch a lot of wind. That Luhut is now well-to-do is due to his work and achievements since he left the Army, and there is nothing untoward about his companies, which he has left to others to run.

He is one of the Cabinet members upon whom the President depends in regard to Indonesia’s vitally important relationship with China, especially in our economic development, and he has gone about his duties very well. Luhut has been consistent and diligent in the projects and in relations with China. I am among those who have helped him, because I do think that our relations with China are important, but to be successful we have to be consistent and positive about this cooperation. And he is one you can depend upon.

I got to know Luhut when he was in the Army’s Special Forces, and could appreciate his leadership. If there is one criticism I have of him, it is that he is very impatient and that he is sometimes too open and direct. But these are also his strengths, which I think are appreciated by President Jokowi.

At one time, in the last selection of ministers for the new Cabinet, many supported him becoming the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister; but he was adamant against the suggestion because he thought he was not the best person for the job, since he came from a minority group, which would limit him in dealing with the relevant issues. That is the sort of man he is!

In conclusion, I would like to argue that Purba’s article would have been better if he had done a little bit more research about the man and also about the allegations that Purba heaped on his shoulders, without knowing the facts. I expect Purba will do some homework and come out with a more balanced piece about my dear friend, Luhut Pandjaitan.

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