Indonesian Trade Minister Sacked Amid Palm Oil Ban Backlash

APR 26 2022·Updated DEC 24 2022

Story

Image credit: Xinhua [via South China Morning Post]

The Facts

On Wed., Indonesia's Pres. Joko Widodo fired his trade minister, Muhammad Lutfi, amid controversy over a series of palm oil export policies.
Reuters
Lutfi came under fire due to his inability to curb the rising prices of palm oil. His policies included a three-week ban on exports of the product, which sent shockwaves through global markets and led to multiple arrests for alleged corruption before being lifted on May 23.
South China Morning Post
The country's newly-appointed trade minister Zulkifli Hasan has pledged to "rapidly resolve issues on the availability and affordability of cooking oil in particular."
MSN
Hasan's appointment has provoked mixed reactions as he is the chairman of a political party that recently joined the ruling coalition.
The Washington Post
Palm oil accounts for nearly 60% of global vegetable oil shipments, and top producer Indonesia accounts for around a third of all vegetable oil exports.
ITN

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Pres. Widodo's replacement of his trade minister is the right move and will improve the performance of the ministry. On top of that, this move has received immense public support with a recent poll showing nearly two-thirds of people support Widodo reshuffling his cabinet.

MalaysiaNow

Narrative B

This move was merely done to please the political elite in Indonesia. President Widodo should rethink this decision if he wants to leave a good legacy. It's unlikely that Hasan will solve a complex problem that a highly qualified person like Lutfi couldn't.