On Monday, August 19 at the State Palace, Jakarta, President Jokowi carried out a cabinet reshuffle by inaugurating several ministers and heads of institutions.
The ministers were inaugurated based on Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 92/P of 2024 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of State Ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period. The three ministers who were inaugurated were Supratman Andi Agtas as Minister of Law and Human Rights (HAM); Rosan Perkasa Roeslani as Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board; and Bahlil Lahadalia as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
In addition, President Jokowi also inaugurated Angga Raka Prabowo as Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics. The inauguration was based on Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 52/M of 2024 concerning the Appointment of Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period. He also inaugurated Dadan Hindayana as Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Taruna Ikrar as Head of BPOM and Hasan Nasbi as Head of the Presidential Communications Office.
After being inaugurated, the new Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said that he would focus on developing strategies to accelerate the optimization of Indonesia's natural resource potential and production. This, he said, was done in order to increase state revenue and create jobs. According to him, the good achievements of the previous minister will be continued, and those that have not will be improved.
With only two months left, he admitted that he would communicate with the previous ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif regarding any targets that had not been achieved during his leadership. He is confident that he will be able to work optimally even though his time is limited.
“I will ask what homework I have to complete. It does not mean that new officials come in and then overhaul the policies. It is not allowed. What is good we continue, that is how the government should do, what is not good we perfect together. I am sure everyone has a leadership strategy. In fact, the challenge for us, with the time we have, we must be able to provide the best contribution to the nation and state,” said Bahlil.
Bahlil emphasized that there would be no conflict of interest between his position as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and his background as a mining entrepreneur. According to him, since he entered the government, he admitted that he had not run his business.
“Since I was appointed as Head of BKPM, I have not been a businessman. So it's finished, and God willing, even though I have a business background, I can distinguish between what is in the interests of the country and what is for personal interests. In fact, with my experience as a former businessman, I will try to fulfill what needs to be improved in order to be in line with what is needed by the business world. If my company is running normally, I will not be a manager,” he explained.
Minister of Law and Human Rights and Gerindra Party cadre Supratman Andi Agtas revealed that the focus that will be implemented in the remaining two months is to carry out reforms in the legal sector, especially those related to the many overlapping regulations between one law and another.
“So, the President wants it to be harmonized and then it can be integrated so that there will be no more sectoral egos caused by overlapping laws and regulations,” said Supratman.
Regarding the assumption that there was a political motive in his appointment as Minister, Supratman said that a cabinet reshuffle was the prerogative of a president.
“There is no problem, if it is the President's prerogative, so there is no dichotomy at all between the government party or others. What is clear is that the president has given me the trust to carry out the task,” he replied.
On the same occasion, the Minister of Investment and the new Head of BKPM Rosan Roeslani said that existing programs to increase investment in Indonesia must be carried out and completed properly. According to him, the performance of Bahli Lahadalia who previously held the position of Minister of Investment was very good, and of course must be improved further.
He also did not say much when asked about how to attract foreign investors to invest in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) located in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.
“Yes, of course, as the investment minister, we will seek the best, largest investment for the Indonesian people in the IKN and of course anywhere in Indonesia. That is the task of the minister of investment. Maybe I can't talk more. Because I have to communicate first with the previous investment minister, so that these steps become more orderly, structured and investment can enter the IKN and all regions in Indonesia,” said Roesan.
Political observer Ujang Komarudin said that regardless reshuffle The cabinet is the prerogative of a President, but it is certain that this step is laden with political content.
“We see a bigger political charge, as the Palace said that this was done for the transition process from Jokowi to Prabowo's government, it could be part of that. However, the public sees it as part of an accommodation of interests, a political accommodation carried out by the two governments,” said Ujang.
Answering the question whether the ministers and heads of institutions can work effectively in the remaining two months? Ujang answered, “their performance will certainly not be effective enough, but it is done once again for the transition process and political accommodation between Jokowi and Prabowo.”
Regarding whether or not Gerindra cadres need to enter the current government, according to him, this could be done because there is a possibility of a political agreement that must be accommodated between Jokowi and Prabowo.
“Maybe there is a compromise between Mr. Jokowi and Mr. Prabowo regarding the current cabinet, yes maybe Gerindra “interns” first in the current government, or also wants to test Prabowo to Jokowi, how much Jokowi accommodates Prabowo's interests. Later we will also see in Prabowo's government in the first year whether many of Jokowi's people are accommodated by Prabowo-Gibran. Of course, the two of them are still in the same struggle and friendship that accommodates each other,” he concluded. (gi/lt)
