A Cabinet of People’s Dream

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo delivers an introduction at the start of a plenary Cabinet meeting on the evaluation of the implementation of the 2014-2019 National Medium-Term Development Plan and preparation for the implementation of the 2020 state budget at the State Palace in Jakarta in early October (3/10/2019).

To gauge the dreams of the Indonesian people one need not consult Oneiroi, the gods of dreams in Greek mythology, nor is it necessary to study Oneirology (the science of dreams), because the founders of the country have very wisely formulated the dream. This dream is explicitly stated in the Preamble of the Federal Republic of Indonesia’s Constitution of 1949 and the Provisional Constitution of 1950: “the creation of wellbeing for Indonesian people”. In the post-amendment Constitution of 1945, it is basically the same: “the creation of welfare for the entire population of Indonesia”. The dream has never faded and is constantly being pursued.

There are many challenges to realizing welfare for the entire population. The greatest challenge is that public welfare can only be realized when all citizens are prepared to share the joys and sorrows of one another. The spirit of sharing such feelings is apt to decline as the ambition of gaining power arises without limit.

Cadres of a political party had to be fight hard against one another in their respective constituency before competing with those of other political parties.

However, there’s still fervent hope. The election of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin in the 2019 general elections arouses the people’s determination to realize their collective dream. Its symptoms can be observed in the complex and intense struggle in the 2019 general elections. The race was in a muddle due to unruly legislative elections. Cadres of a political party had to be fight hard against one another in their respective constituency before competing with those of other political parties.

The presidential elections competition was very fierce because of the exploitation of primordial sentiments and the domination of exclusive ideologies of conservatism. Supporting parties prioritized their cadres’ struggle to secure seats in the legislature, making the presidential election of second importance. The central role of “campaign teams” was not concretely felt in their performance, with unclear leadership. The field became anarchic and pragmatic. Consequently, the 2019 simultaneous general elections failed to produce a coattail effect for the creation of an effective presidential government.

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 in Jakarta. They discussed a number of current issues, including the 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.

Yet the political contest proved in the victory of Jokowi-Amin that people have a strong desire to see their candidates emerge triumphant. The weight of popular support for Jokowi-Amin should be utilized by Jokowi to form his cabinet. He need not feel over burdened by the demands of supporting political parties offering ministerial candidates if they are seen as lacking competence. This is even more the case with ministerial candidates from political parties that have abruptly joined the coalition. They should be treated more selectively.

Apart from competence, they should be familiar with political manners so that their attitudes are one of presidential “aides”. The cabinet should be a dream cabinet because in the next five years the Jokowi-Amin government has to lay the foundations of life for the nation and state.

This is especially needed to restrict the elbowroom of conservative primordial ideologies that are intertwined with treacherous power hunters wishing to remove the state ideology Pancasila.

Support is growing stronger as Jokowi will focus on the development of human resources. The urgent and crucial challenge is to select ministers who are responsible in the execution of their noble duties. They have to possess competence, relevant knowledge, morality and a high level of integrity. This is a golden opportunity to shape the character of national development over the next five years. This is especially needed to restrict the elbowroom of conservative primordial ideologies that are intertwined with treacherous power hunters wishing to remove the state ideology Pancasila.

The ministers responsible for the realization of this agenda are, among others, the coordinating human and cultural development minister, the religious affairs minister, the health minister, the women’s empowerment and child protection minister, the education and culture minister, the research, technology and higher education minister, the manpower minister and the head of the talent management agency.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Up to 6,000 construction workers take part in the launch of the Electronic Certificates for Construction Workers at Istora Senayan in Jakarta in March (12/03/2019).

In particular, the education and culture minister is expected to be conversant with pedagogy (for child guidance) and andragogy (educational theory and practice). This is because this ministry has a central, vital and strategic function of nurturing the nation’s ideology among children and youngsters.

In addition, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency is expected to serve as a motivator so that the comprehension and implementation of Pancasila becomes a social movement. It should not be trapped in the process of bureaucratization like the Agency for the Educational Development of Execution of Guidelines for the Comprehension and Implementation of Pancasila (BP7) in the New Order period, which reduced the cultivation of Pancasila values to mere state rhetoric. As a result of the discrepancy between what was said and done, hypocrisy polluted social life.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

A student takes part in a practice session for competency on motorcycle engineering expertise in August (10/8/2018) at SMK Negeri 7 state vocational high school in Tangerang regency, Banten, which has formed a partnership with PT Astra Honda Motor.

The other challenge faced by Jokowi is the reorganization of several ministries, especially anticipating the consequence of the policy on the government’s effectiveness in the next five years. In previous governments, it took about two years for the ministerial structure to work normally. It’s hypothetically calculated that the cabinet can only work in full swing in the third year. In the fourth year, it is feared that officials will be tempted by the 2024 general elections and the fifth year will see politicians, including ministers, caught in 2024 election fever.

In view of the public’s longing for the realization of its dream, supporting political parties and new coalition member parties should have empathy toward popular expectations. They should prove their words, ministers bear presidential authority.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (at the microphone) and Ma’ruf Amin (second left), his running mate in the 2019 presidential election, speaks in June (30/6/2019) after the General Election Commission (KPU) determined them to have been the elected president and vice president for the 2019 to 2024 term. The Jokowi and Ma’ruf pair got 85,607,362 votes, 55.5 percent of the total national eligible votes.

The standard response usually follows media questions. But their body language is confusing as they always respond with mysterious smiles, rather than heartfelt expressions, giving the impression they have hidden agendas. In fact, without political commitments, the people’s sweet dream will become a nightmare that causes social trauma.

J KRISTIADI, Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)