Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has honorably discharged Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Archandra Tahar and appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as the acting energy minister.
Minister/State Secretary Pratikno announced the discharge of the newly appointed minister at the Presidential Palace here on Monday night.
"In response to the public inquiries related to the citizenship of minister Archandra Tahar, and after obtaining information from various sources, the president honorably discharged Archandra from the post of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister," Pratikno disclosed.
Pratikno further said Archardras termination will become effective on August 16, 2016.
"(He will be) effectively dismissed tomorrow morning as it has been decided tonight," he pointed out.
Archandra Tahar who was inaugurated as the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister on Wednesday (July 27, 2016) replaced Sudirman Said.
As reported earlier, Archandra Tahar held two passports, one from Indonesia and the other from the United States.
Indonesia, however, does not recognize the concept of dual citizenship.
Minister Archandra Tahar had reiterated that he was an Indonesian passport holder.
"My Indonesian passport is still valid. Please check," he told the media people earlier at the premises of the energy and mineral resources ministry.
On Sunday (Aug 14), Minister/State Secretary Pratikno stated that Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Archandra Tahar held an Indonesian passport.
"So, we want to confirm that Mr Archandra Tahar is a holder of Indonesian passport. He entered Indonesia using his Indonesian passport, valid until 2017," Pratikno said on Sunday when attending the National Scout Jamboree kicked off by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
He said many Indonesians who have made great achievements, still live overseas.(WDY)
