Gita Takes Correct Step: Chief Security Minister

Jakarta (Antara) - Gita Wirjawan has taken the right decision to resign from the post of Minister of Trade stated Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto. "He has resigned from the trade ministerial post merely to avoid conflict of interest in his capacity as a state official. Thus, he can now concentrate on the presidential convention. He made the correct choice," the coordinating minister noted in his text message to Antara on Friday. Djoko Suyanto pointed out that if he was in Gita Wirjawan's position, he too would have also taken the same step. He explained that if a person is sure of what he wants, but is faced with two choices, then he must decide which one to choose. Earlier, Gita Wirjawan tendered his resignation as the trade minister on Friday. "I resign from the post of trade minister," Gita announced at a press conference. He justified his decision to resign from the ministerial post, effective February 1, by saying that he wanted to primarily focus on the presidential convention of the Democratic Party (PD). Offering an explanation for his decision, Gita stated he was fully aware of the fact that a major conflict of interest could have occurred, if he still held the ministerial post and directed all his focus towards the presidential convention. He hoped that his decision to resign was the best step for Indonesia and for his endeavor to become a presidential candidate in Indonesia's current democratic and political developments. Gita Wirjawan is one of the 11 participants in the PD presidential convention. The other participants of the convention include State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, House Speaker Marzuki Alie, and Paramadina University Rector Anies Baswedan. Gita Wirjawan was the former president director of JP Morgan Indonesia between 2006 and 2008. He then founded the company, Ancora Capital, in 2008. In 2009, he was appointed chief of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). He later assumed the trade ministerial post in 2011. (*)