Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has appointed Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian as the Acting Chief Security Minister, replacing Mohammad Mahfud MD, who resigned on Thursday.

The Coordinator of the President's Special Staff, Ari Dwipayana, said Tito's appointment is outlined in Presidential Decree Number 20 of 2024, signed by Jokowi on Friday.

"The President has signed a decree respectfully relieving Mr. Mahfud from his position as Chief Security Minister," said Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana in a brief message on Friday.

Mahfud, who is now vying for the position of vice president, is competing against Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

He revealed his reason for stepping down was due to conflicting political agendas. "I had to resign. Why? Because I couldn't possibly go against policies or the candidate supported by Jokowi," said Mahfud in Jakarta on Thursday.

The resignation, Mahfud explained, allows him to focus on his election bid without concerns about misusing his position or government facilities.

Mahfud MD had previously mentioned three crucial tasks that must be continued by the next official in the remaining Jokowi period. These tasks include resolving the case of the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI), non-judicial resolution of serious human rights violations, and the revision of the Constitutional Court Law (UU MK).