Taking into Account Competence and Integrity

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

President Joko Widodo (second left) follows People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker and National Mandate Party chair Zulkifli Hasan (left) as they leave a meeting on Monday (10/14/2019) at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. The meeting discussed several current issues, including amending the 1945 Constitution and forming the government coalition. The President also met with Democratic Party chair Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Gerindra Party chair Prabowo Subianto earlier in the week.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS —President Joko Widodo must be given the freedom to form the 2019-2024 Cabinet. However, in doing so he has to take into account prospective ministers\' competence and integrity while accommodating the aspirations of political parties and the public.

Ahead of the inauguration of Joko Widodo-Ma\'ruf Amin as president and vice president for the 2019-2024 term on 20 October, meetings of political party elites have intensified.

On Monday (14/10/2019), Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto met with National Awakening Party chairman Muhaimin Iskandar. On the same day, President Jokowi met with National Mandate Party chairman Zulkifli Hasan. Gerindra and PAN were part of a coalition during the 2019 election that were in opposition to the Jokowi-Amin camp.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi yesterday met with Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siroj at Merdeka Palace. However, no press statement was made after the meeting.

When contacted, NU secretary-general Helmy Faishal Zaini said the NU was not in a position to propose any of its members to the President for ministerial positions. "The NU is not demanding any position because it does not want to be a burden to the President. He [Jokowi] certainly has his own estimations in composing the Cabinet," he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo (right) walks alongside Gerindra Party chair Prabowo Subianto on Friday (11/10/2019), following a meeting at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. The meeting discussed a number of current issues, including sociopolitical, economic and security conditions in the country, as well as the possibility of appointing Gerindra politicians to the cabinet during the President’s second term in office.

The NU expressed hope that ministers chosen by President Jokowi would be able to overcome three challenges of the nation, namely extremism and terrorism, uneven economic development and the preparation of human resources in the face of Industry 4.0.

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu\'ti said that according to the law, the formation of the Cabinet is the right and authority of the president. Nevertheless, the president must obey the law regulating the normative and political conditions, as well as the number of Cabinet members.

Regarding its performance, according to Mu\'ti, the President needs to apply the meritocracy system while taking into account the aspects of competence and integrity. The Cabinet should also accommodate the various aspirations of political parties and the public. In addition, it is necessary to consider figures who are not controversial and have public acceptability.

More dynamic

President Jokowi said yesterday that his meeting with PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan discussed the challenges that Indonesia would face in the future, both in terms of geopolitics and economics. Regarding the possibility of PAN joining the government coalition, the President said talks were ongoing. "There is [discussion on the issue], but it has not reached the final stage," he said.

Zulkifli voice appreciation that President Jokowi had embraced all parties after the 2019 election. With the same common vision and understanding of the nation\'s future challenges, all are equally aiming to make life in Indonesia better, through the strengthening of democracy and people\'s prosperity.

Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto has met with NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh and PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar separately in the last two days.

Muhaimin said the PKB was open to Gerindra joining the ruling coalition. "It\'s OK, we have no problem with that," Muhaimin said.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

A student rides a bicycle past an anti-radicalism banner on Saturday (23/1) in Jurang Mangu, South Tangerang, Banten.

Meanwhile, Prabowo said bickering and rivalry should end so that cooperation among political forces could be explored. "Once the battle is over, we must meet to find common ground. The nation needs the union of all forces to work for the people," he said. (REK/INA/AGE)