Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) was inducted on Wednesday as the new secretary general of the MPR, replacing Eddie Siregar who will now be on pension.

MPR Speaker Zulkifli Hasan led the induction and oath-taking ceremony of Maruf Cahyono at the Nusantara IV room of the Parliament building on Wednesday.

Members of the MPR and leaders of its factions attended the ceremony.

Maruf Cahyono is the fourth MPR secretary general since the start of the reforms era in 1998.

MPR chairman Zulkifli Hasan said in his address that the secretary generals post is a strategic position that involves heavy tasks and responsibilities.

The MPR Secretariat is led by the secretary general who, he said, must be able to assist the MPR members in their tasks. Its job is to carry out not only technical and administrative functions but also to respond to issues regarding bringing about changes in the state system.

"Please provide assistance to the MPR members to ensure that there are no administrative errors or financial mistakes," said Zulkifli.

The MPR chairman said the MPR has pinned big hopes on Maruf Cahyono, the new secretary general. His challenge lies in working well and ushering the MPR into a new era.

As the position of the secretary general involves its own challenges, Zulkifli said, Maruf will have to adopt a dynamic and strategic attitude in carrying out not only technical and administrative tasks but will also have to engage with systemic issues.

"One of the challenges will be to come up with ideas to revive the Broad State Guidelines Policy (GBHN)," the MPR chairman said, referring to the GBHN, a concept which was implemented during the New Order Government in the past.

In the meantime, Maruf Cahyono said his new responsibility casts upon him a big responsibility, morally and constitutionally, and he would try to seriously carry out the tasks entrusted to him.

"The secretary general functions as a supporting system for the MPR. We should provide the best services to all MPR members," said Maruf.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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