Amran reminds officials: We are servants of the people
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has reminded officials, including ministers and regional heads, that their positions are a mandate to serve the people and not power that lasts forever.
Speaking at the 45th anniversary and 138th graduation ceremony of Tadulako University (Untad) in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, Amran said every position has a time limit and can end at any time.
Amran cited the example of a minister, whose term of office is limited and who can be replaced through a cabinet reshuffle, so the position should not be regarded as permanent.
“A minister is a contract employee, only five years, and even then only if not reshuffled,” he said before 1,018 graduates from doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and applied bachelor’s programmes.
According to him, the same applies to regional heads. He reminded officials not to act as though they have power over everything once they hold office.
“Who are you? A servant of God, a servant of the people. We are servants of the people,” he stressed.
Amran emphasised that every official will be held accountable for the mandate they receive, so positions must be used to serve the public interest and not personal interests.
“This will be asked in the hereafter. What did you do with that position?” he said.
According to him, being an official is not an easy matter because every authority must be exercised with full responsibility and carries moral consequences and accountability to the public.
On the occasion, Amran also invited Untad graduates to become drivers of the economy and job creators by making use of regional potential.
He said university graduates need to be bold in developing the skills and knowledge acquired during their studies into productive activities that provide economic benefits to the community.
Amran asked graduates not to be oriented only towards becoming job seekers, but to be able to see opportunities in their surroundings and dare to start businesses in line with available potential.