"Currently, Mr. Pandjaitan is undergoing health treatment. That way, President Jokowi has appointed SOEs Minister Thohir to be the ad-interim minister," said Ari Dwipayana, coordinator of advisors to Jokowi, on Wednesday.
Pandjaitan posted on Instagram on Tuesday that his condition was fine after his doctor advised him to rest for a few days. He recalled feeling sudden extreme fatigue during an activity.
"I suddenly felt extreme fatigue. This fatigue was not like what I usually feel after work," he explained.
Pandjaitan's wife then took him to a hospital in Jakarta for preventive measures. Taking into account his condition, Pandjaitan's doctor advised him to not conduct his daily activities for the time being.
After being recommended by Singaporean Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Pandjaitan decided to check his health and undergo recovery in Singapore.
"I want to convey my utmost gratitude to the president, who provided the presidential medical team and nurses that treated me," he stated.
Thohir will hold all of Pandjaitan's positions in the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, according to Dwipayana.
"The ad interim minister will assume all of the minister's duties," he remarked.
Pandjaitan is concurrently the head of the National Water Resources Council, the chair of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train Committee, and the coordinator of Air Pollution Handling in Jakarta, and other positions.
Thohir will temporarily replace Pandjaitan starting from Wednesday until further directive from President Jokowi.
"We hope that Mr. Pandjaitan can recover soon and resume his daily duties," Dwipayana stated.
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Translator: Indra P, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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