Quietly, Chief Justice M Syarifuddin Invited by Prabowo: What Ministerial Role Awaits?

In a meeting that flew under the media radar, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (MA) M Syarifuddin was unexpectedly summoned by President-elect Prabowo Subianto to his residence on Jalan Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Monday, October 14.

The gathering took place amid the ongoing cabinet formation process for Prabowo-Gibran 2024-2029, catching many by surprise, especially since Syarifuddin’s term as Chief Justice is set to end on October 17, 2024.

Syarifuddin arrived at Prabowo’s home at 6:30 PM, accompanied by Sultan Najamuddin, the Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD). He managed to slip past the media waiting outside, adding an air of intrigue to the meeting.

The presence of Syarifuddin alongside notable figures such as Sultan Najamuddin and Imam Besar Istiqlal Mosque Nazaruddin Umar sparked speculation regarding his potential role in the upcoming cabinet.

Despite inquiries, details about the specific ministry Syarifuddin might assume remain unclear.

Internal sources suggest that Syarifuddin’s invitation could be linked to a strategic position within the legal or governmental sectors that would benefit from his judicial expertise.

Given his extensive experience as Chief Justice, many speculate he could be tasked with overseeing legal reforms or matters related to the judiciary.

Responding to the assembly of prospective ministers, Prabowo Subianto indicated that all invited figures expressed their willingness to join his cabinet. “Alhamdulillah, everyone has confirmed their readiness,” Prabowo stated.

In addition to Syarifuddin, several other prominent individuals were also present during this initial round of invitations, including Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Tito Karnavian, and Sri Mulyani. However, Syarifuddin’s unexpected attendance garnered particular attention amidst the cabinet formation dynamics.

The election for the new Chief Justice is scheduled for October 16, 2024, just one day before Syarifuddin’s official term concludes. This timing raises the question: will Syarifuddin transition from the judiciary to an executive role?

A Notable Cabinet Call: Fifty Individuals Invited by Prabowo

Notably, the list of those summoned by Prabowo has expanded beyond the initially expected figures, totaling 50 individuals. Here are the names of the prospective ministers invited on the first day:

1. Prasetyo Hadi
2. Natalius Pigai
3. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana
4. Yandri Susanto
5. Fadli Zon
6. Nusron Wahid
7. Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul)
8. Maruarar Sirait
9. Teuku Riefky Harsya
10. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY)
11. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro
12. Arifatul Choiri Fauzi
13. Yassierli
14. Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas)
15. Tito Karnavian
16. Bahlil Lahadalia
17. Yusril Ihza Mahendra (Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights)
18. Abdul Mu’ti (Minister of Education and Culture)
19. Iftitah Sulaiman
20. Sugiono
21. Muhaimin Iskandar
22. Wihaji
23. Abdul Kadir Karding
24. Agus Andrianto
25. Raja Juli Antoni
26. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita
27. Pratikno
28. Maman Abdurrahman (Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs)
29. Ribka Haluk
30. Dudy Purwagandhi
31. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono
32. Budi Santoso
33. Rachmat Pambudy
34. Raden Dodi Priyono
35. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq
36. Nasaruddin Umar
37. Amran Sulaiman
38. Sultan B Najamudin
39. Erick Thohir
40. Dito Ariotedjo
41. Budi Gunadi Sadikin
42. Airlangga Hartarto
43. Sri Mulyani (Minister of Finance)
44. Veronica Tan
45. Supratman Andi Agtas
46. Rosan Roeslani
47. M Herindra
48. Donny Ermawan
49. Meutya Hafid
50. M Syarifuddin

As the cabinet formation progresses, the anticipation surrounding M Syarifuddin’s potential new role remains a compelling topic for discussion.

The transition from the judiciary to the executive branch would indeed mark a significant shift in his career, leaving many curious about the impact of such a change on Indonesia’s legal landscape.