APBN repair secures pesantren, votes: Minister Imin interview
The Trowulan Reviews had the honor of interviewing Coordinating Minister for Human Resource Development Muhaimin Iskandar, popularly known as Cak Imin, following the government’s decision to rebuild Pondok Pesantren Al-Khoziny using Rp125.3 billion from the national budget. The pesantren previously collapsed, killing 63 santri, without any suspects named to date.
Our first impression: the minister was relaxed, jovial, and visibly relieved that concrete is easier to manage than responsibility.
The Trowulan Reviews: Let’s get straight to the point. What is the justification for allocating Rp125.3 billion of national funds to rebuild this pesantren?
Muhaimin Iskandar: Well, repairing buildings costs money. Hehe.
That is true, but why this much?
Because they secured a very large number of votes in the last election. That is how my opponent won and how I became minister. Hehe.
People in Aceh and Sumatra also vote, yet disaster relief per regency is far smaller. How do you explain that?
If you haven’t heard, as expressed indirectly by our eighth and final president, we may not need elections anymore. So there’s no need to worry about future voting blocks.
Some critics say this looks like special treatment.
I reject that completely. This is equal treatment. Everyone is allowed to collapse once before receiving national attention.
The original building collapsed due to poor construction. Who will be held accountable?
Accountability is very important. That is why we are moving forward instead of backward.
Will the rebuilt pesantren follow proper engineering standards?
Absolutely. This time we will include walls, roofs, and a strong sense of optimism.
The previous construction reportedly involved forced labor by children. How will that be addressed?
We are reframing it as early exposure to the construction sector. This aligns well with human resource development.
Why was a political figure present at the groundbreaking instead of, say, an engineer?
Engineers fix structures. Politicians fix narratives. Only one of those needs to stand for re-election.
Families of the deceased have received limited compensation. Do you think that is sufficient?
No amount of money can replace a child. That is why we gave them much less.
What message does this send to other pesantren across Indonesia?
Please don’t collapse, we are short on budget. But when it happens, collapse responsibly, stay politically relevant, and help us during elections.
Finally, what would you say to citizens who feel the national budget is being misused?
I understand their concern. That is why we carefully used it on the right people.