ENERGY and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Sudirman Said rushed to call President Joko Widodo, on Tuesday last week. He felt the need to clarify his statement on closing Pertamina Energy Trading Ltd, (Petral), which had apparently upset former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"What did you say? Just explain what happened," said Jokowi by telephone, as described by Sudirman to Tempo last Friday.

One government official who knew about the matt