Luhut Pandjaitan, a key figure in two eras of government
Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto appointed Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as Special Advisor to the President for Digitalization and Government Technology, a day after Luhut was appointed Chair of the National Economic Council. The inauguration was carried out simultaneously with the inauguration of the Red and White Cabinet Ministers on Monday (21/10).
Meanwhile, for the position of special advisor, the inauguration took place on Tuesday (22/10). Until now, Luhut is the only official who has undergone two inaugurations since Prabowo served as President.
This shows the great trust that President Prabowo has in Luhut considering the strategic role he plays in the economic and government sectors, including his experience from the previous government.
Luhut’s combination of experience and expertise in these two fields is considered important to help the government face global challenges and accelerate the digitalization process in various government sectors.
As Chair of the National Economic Council, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has strategic responsibility in supervising, formulating and providing direction for national economic policies aimed at supporting economic growth and improving people’s welfare.
Meanwhile, his position is as special advisor for Government Digitalization and Technology. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has an important role in providing special advice to the president for investment and government affairs regarding accelerating the digital transformation process in the public sector.
This position further strengthens Luhut’s career track record in government, with the various strategic positions he has held, showing the consistent trust of state leaders in his ability to handle important issues, both in the fields of economics, politics and government technology.
So, what was the background and career path of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan until he was asked for help to hold two positions at once in the Prabowo-Gibran government cabinet era? Following is his profile.
Profile of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan
TNI General (Ret.) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was born in Simargala, Huta Namora Silaen, Toba Samosir on 28 September 1947. Since he was young, he has demonstrated a brilliant career.
During his middle school years at Penabur High School, Bandung, Luhut was active in organizational activities. He was one of the founders of the Indonesian Student Action Unit (KAPI), which was a forum for students and university students to oppose the Old Order and the PKI.
In 1967, Luhut entered the Army Military Academy and graduated three years later with the title of best graduate, thus being awarded the Adhi Makayasa award.
After completing his education at the Military Academy, he began his career in the military with the rank of second lieutenant, serving in Kopassus. While serving at Kopassus, Luhut held various important positions and helped establish the Counter-Terror Detachment. In the 1997-1999 period, he received a promotion to the rank of three stars when he was appointed Commander of Education and Training for the Indonesian Army in Bandung.
In 1999-2000, Luhut Binsar served as Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore. In the following year, he was trusted to be Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2000-2001 period in the era of President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Then in 2004 Luhut started a business in the energy and mining sector called PT Toba Sejahtera. In his political career, Luhut joined the Golkar Party and served as Deputy Chair of the Advisory Council. In the 2014 presidential election, Luhut decided to resign from the Golkar Party because he gave his support to presidential candidate Joko Widodo.
In the first period of Jokowi’s administration, Luhut initially served as Chief of Presidential Staff for almost a year. Then he was made minister. Luhut was appointed Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) replacing Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno in 2015.
Then, in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet in 2019, he was trusted again by Joko Widodo in his second term as president, to make Luhut the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment until the end of the cabinet’s term.
Luhut once revealed that after his term of office in the Jokowi era ended, he was no longer interested in becoming a minister, even though the president-elect offered to do so. Instead, he is more interested in acting as an advisor by providing input and suggestions.
Until finally in 2024, President-elect Prabowo Subianto appointed Luhut Binsar Panjaitan as Special Advisor to the President for Digitalization and Government Technology and Chair of the National Economic Council in the 2024-2029 Red and White Cabinet.
Also read: Profile of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, holding two positions from Prabowo
Also read: Prabowo added Luhut’s position to special advisor in the field of digitalization
Also read: Prabowo appoints seven Special Advisors to the President
Reporter: Sean Anggiatheda Sitorus
Editor: Alviansyah Pasaribu
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