JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology has denied allegations of abuse and cruel termination which fuelled civil servant demonstrations in Central Jakarta.
Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro held a meeting with civil servants who staged a demonstration on Monday ( Jan 20 ), following dissatisfaction with his handling of employee rotations and allegations of verbal abuse, as well as alleged dismissals without due process.
“We told them our purpose, which is to realize President Prabowo Subianto’s ask and I explained that such a movement process is expected for any company, ” Satryo said, as quoted by Kompas Television on Tuesday.
Satryo was referring to a meeting that was held with the legal workers who were demonstrating at his ministry’s office tower in the cash.
Previously, he had said that common reshuffling of his department was necessary to improve productivity and job collaboration, emphasising his determination to ensuring a fulfilling career for his staff, Kompas reported.
“We are making significant adjustments as the government is then divided into three parts and the reform is in line with the senator ’s phone to be more efficient with the finances, ” he was quoted as saying on Monday by media company Jakarta Globe.
President Prabowo Subianto has divided the Education and Cultural Affairs Ministry into three separate entities- the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, the Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry as well as the Cultural Affairs Ministry.
On Monday, hundreds of civil servants from his ministry reportedly gathered outside the ministry’s office building in Central Jakarta holding banners that read” We are civil servants, paid by the state, working for the state, not slaves of the family,” fuelled by concerns of the rotation and the abrupt dismissal of several employees.
This included a staff member who was fired, allegedly after a minor incident involving a piece of office furniture.
The civil servants were dressed in black and sang the national anthem during the demonstration.
“State institutions are not Satryo and his wife’s private companies, ” another banner said.
“Mr President, please save us from an angry minister who likes to slap and fire employees, ” a separate banner said.
In a voice recording that had circulated online, a voice similar to Satryo’s could be heard allegedly scolding and slapping one of his ministry’s vendors because of some water issues at his house.
Satryo denied allegations that he had anger issues and had slapped his employees.
“That is not my voice, ” he said, as quoted by Tempo.