The drama surrounding the Indonesian Cabinet ended after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced a reshuffle on Tuesday afternoon, December 22, 2020.
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KOMPAS EDITOR
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President Joko Widodo accompanied by Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin announced the names of six new ministers who will be part of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, on Tuesday (22/12/2020).
The drama surrounding the Indonesian Cabinet ended after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced a reshuffle on Tuesday afternoon, December 22, 2020.
President Jokowi’s swift move to announce a Cabinet reshuffle has been much appreciated, especially as the nation continues to face tough challenges. These challenges – including the ever persisting COVID-19 pandemic, a massive vaccination drive to roll out, an economic crisis and mounting social unrest – demand Cabinet solidity.
Congratulations to the new ministers who will bring us new hope. President Jokowi’s decision was certainly out-of-the-box with appointing Budi Gunadi Sadikin, a nuclear physics engineer and banker, to lead the Health Ministry. Budi, who previously served as Deputy State-Owned Enterprises Minister, has been struggling with vaccine procurement and also chairs the committee for national economic recovery acceleration.
Likewise, it was unusual that Jokowi appointed Sandiaga Uno, Prabowo Subianto’s running mate in the 2019 presidential elections, as Tourism and Creative Economy Minister. His appointment would thus mean that the Indonesia Onward Cabinet now includes both of Jokowi’s competitors.
Other new ministers include Tri Rismaharini as Social Affairs Minister, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono as Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Religious Affairs Minister and M. Lutfi as Trade Minister.
Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro
President Joko Widodo spoke at a limited cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, which was broadcast online, Tuesday (19/5/2020).
The Indonesia Onward Cabinet that President Jokowi inaugurated on October 23, 2019, has been badly hit by the pandemic. The initial hopeful attitudes of the Cabinet had gradually eroded with attempts to reign in the pandemic. The “brake and gas” policy – an attempt to prioritize both health and economic restoration – was sometimes implemented too suddenly and prematurely.
Indonesian history has taught President Jokowi to appoint ministers who do not have any personal ambition to pursue other political interests.
Given the magnitude of the challenges faced, we hope that the minister chosen by President Jokowi will become “all the president’s men” with sole loyalty to the president, as head of the government. Indonesian history has taught President Jokowi to appoint ministers who do not have any personal ambition to pursue other political interests.
This nation’s challenges are indeed tough. This nation needs ministers who can increase public trust in the government and be able to navigate through the bureaucracy to serve the community. These ministers must also have adequate public communication skills and also be able to communicate with each other, as to avoid confusion.
A Cabinet reshuffle is the perfect time to ask the ministers to recommit themselves to refrain from despicable acts, such as corruption or accepting commissions from the state budget. The power of one who heads a ministry must be dedicated to the interests of the people. A throne is for the people, not for an individual or his kinship. Happy working to the new ministers!
