Competence Still of Utmost Importance

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to include young politicians in his next cabinet needs careful study and consideration. A number of factors, such as competence, track record in management and political sensitivity, must be considered when appointing young people to the ministerial ranks.

Based on Kompas’ review conducted on Wednesday (3/7/2019), since the Reformasi of 1998, Indonesian ministers ranged in age from 51 to 56 years upon their appointment. The youngest minister to ever serve on a post-reform cabinet was 34 when he was installed during the administration of president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid (1999-2001).

Meanwhile, the oldest post-reform ministers were 66 years old when they were sworn in, during the administrations of presidents B.J. Habibie (1998-1999), Megawati Soekarnoputri (2001-2004) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2004-2014).

Entering the second term of his leadership, October 2019, President Jokowi said, the cabinet needed ministers who were able to execute the appropriate programs quickly or had a strong drive in executing programs. It was here that Jokowi said that his next cabinet would be filled with young ministers ranging in age from 20 to 30 years (Kompas, 2/7/2019).

Public policy observer Agus Pambagyo, from the University of Indonesia, said that involving young people in the cabinet could be part of generational change. However, the plan needed to be studied realistically and consider several factors to maintain an effective government.

The young people’s experiences in managerial and leadership positions were among the factors that need consideration, because the challenges in managing a ministry and the bureaucracy was not the same as managing a company. This managerial ability must also be accompanied by sensitivity in politics, because a minister was a political position.

"With a bureaucratic culture like that which exists now in Indonesia, it takes a lot of experience to be a minister. Young figures are needed, but their track records are very important because they will have thousands of employees throughout Indonesia. If a minister is unable to manage this, it will cause trouble for the President," Agus said when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday (3/7/2019).

In this regard, he said, the logical age for taking up a cabinet position was above 35 years. However, in principle, age should not be used as a benchmark for appointing ministers to the next cabinet. Competence and professionalism must always be the primary consideration in choosing ministers.

Former Industry Minister Saleh Husin made a similar statement, saying that the most important thing needed in a minister was the ability to manage the bureaucracy, policies and the relationship; with the House of Representatives. "Age is relative," he said.The head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Center for Political Studies, Firman Noor, added that ministers needed professionalism and skills because the administration of Jokowi\'s second term would be completing a number of difficult programs. These ranged from completing unfinished Jokowi-Kalla programs to realizing the programs promised during the Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin campaign.

On the other hand, Firman said, young ministers were indeed necessary to offer new perspectives on nation building. So far, young people had tended to be involved only symbolically, and had never been placed in strategic positions.

Preparing cadres

Several political parties in the Jokowi-Amin coalition have welcomed Jokowi\'s plan to involve more young people in government.

Nasdem Party secretary-general Johnny G. Plate and National Awakening Party (PKB) deputy secretary-general Jazilul Fawaid said that their parties were ready to propose young cadres to fill certain ministries, if necessary.

However, they also stressed that the cadres’ competency and track records would be the main considerations. "Now is the right time for more young people to be involved [in government] for the sake of regeneration. However, it should not consider just young age as an important measure, but their ability must be seen as the [primary consideration]," said Jazilul.

Similarly, United Development Party (PPP) deputy secretary-general Achmad Baidowi said that the move was good to prepare for leadership regeneration. However, in addition to competence, young people must also be able to communicate well with other ministers and the leaders of other state institutions. He also expressed hope that the young people who joined the cabinet would maintain the youthful characteristics of egalitarianism and humanitarianism. In doing so, the expected changes could be achieved. (AGE/NIA)

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