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When the going gets tough, Jokowi has 'Mr. Fix-it' Luhut at the ready
His latest appointment by President Jokowi to helm a new committee that will be in charge of the Jakarta-Bandung railway project, taking over the role that had been occupied by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, is further proof of his reputation for getting things done.
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Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Panjaitan speaks in Jakarta on June 30, 2020. He was thanking Nestlé Indonesia for providing food aid to scavengers and protective gear to health workers amid COVID-19. (Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry/Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry)
S
o instrumental and effective has been the role of Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration that he has earned many nicknames, including "Menteri Segala Urusan" (minister for all affairs), "Lord Luhut," "Luhut Lagi, Luhut Lagi" (Luhut again and again) and a moniker that best describes his role today: "Mr Fix-it".
His latest appointment by President Jokowi to helm a new committee that will be in charge of the Jakarta-Bandung railway project, taking over the role that had been occupied by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, is further proof of his reputation for getting things done.
The appointment was made shortly after Luhut achieved success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, following the peak of a second wave in June, when the country recorded more than 50,000 cases per day. Cases have been trending downward since mid-September and daily cases today remain under 1,000 with a positivity rate remaining below 1.
Before taking charge of the effort to handle COVID-19, the 74-year-old former Indonesian Military (TNI) general had a long list of assignments, including the country's point man to deal with major superpowers such as the United States, China and Japan.
Luhut has also been playing a senior diplomatic role, as he is comfortable talking with Chinese senior officials like Foreign Minister Wang Yi, whom he referred to as "a good friend", while also managing to get access to senior members of the US government during the Trump administration, including Jared Kushner, if not Donald Trump himself.
Many have chalked up his ability to get things done to his leadership style, one that is result-oriented with a no-nonsense attitude.
“His commanding presence has enforced some discipline among the Cabinet members,” said Noory Okthariza, political analyst of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
