Jakarta. Yasonna Laoly expressed gratitude to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for entrusting him with a ministerial role for the past decade, as he stepped down from his position on Monday.

Yasonna served as the Minister of Justice since Jokowi’s first term began in October 2014. Although he briefly left the post after being elected as a House of Representatives member representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in October 2019, the president reappointed him just three weeks later following his re-election.

Speaking to Justice Ministry officials during an internal event earlier in the day, Yasonna shared that he was summoned by the president on the eve of his dismissal.

"I told him, ‘Mr. President, thank you for the trust and opportunity you gave me to serve as the Minister of Justice and Human Rights’,” Yasonna said as he bid farewell to his colleagues.

At the same time, at the State Palace, Supratman Andi Agtas, an executive of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), was sworn in as Yasonna’s successor.

Yasonna acknowledged that his tenure was not without its challenges, including decisions such as rotations, dismissals, and reprimands against officials that may have caused resentment.

"As a human being, from the bottom of my heart, I ask for your forgiveness," he said.

Add as a preferred source on Google +