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Sports minister Zainudin has tendered resignation, Jokowi says
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Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali speaks during a media briefing on Tuesday for the 2023 Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship (F1H20), to be held from Feb. 24 to 26 at Lake Toba, North Sumatra.
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Tuesday that Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali had “informally” tendered his resignation a day after the Cabinet member had expressed his wish to focus on his new responsibilities as deputy chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
“There’s no official resignation yet, but [Zainudin] has informally conveyed [his intention to resign],” said Jokowi while visiting the Ciliwung River on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com. “I will announce his replacement once he has tendered his official resignation.”
Zainudin and the rest of the PSSI leadership had met with the President at the State Palace on Monday to discuss their future plans to reform Indonesian soccer. Addressing reporters, Zainudin said the President had given him his blessing to focus on the new role in the PSSI, after the Golkar Party politician was appointed deputy chairman during the association’s extraordinary congress last week.
Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto said the party would wait for Jokowi’s instructions on Zainudin’s replacement because installing or removing a Cabinet member was the prerogative of the President.
Read also: President gives a nod to sports minister to focus on soccer job
“Nonetheless, we have plenty of capable cadres that we can prepare [to fill the position],” said Airlangga on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Conflict of interest issues arose after Zainudin’s election, as the Youth and Sports Ministry is responsible for overseeing general sports development in the country, not just soccer. Newly elected PSSI chairman and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir also voiced this concern in a televised interview with journalist Najwa Shihab on Saturday.
