It’s Time to Prove Abilities

Following the swearing in of Cabinet members, it is time for President Jokowi\'s government to fulfill his campaign promises. Solidarity is needed to overcome various challenges.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin pose for a photograph with ministers on the front steps of Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (23/10/2019). On that day, President Joko Widodo announced the composition of his Cabinet, which was named the Indonesia Onward Cabinet. On that occasion, the President advised his ministers not to commit corruption and create a system that closed loopholes in corruption.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The inauguration of 34 ministers, three ministerial level officials and the attorney general in his new Indonesia Onward Cabinet at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, was the initial step to fulfilling the campaign promises of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin.

In addition to the competence and commitment of the ministers, the management of the Cabinet by Jokowi and Ma\'ruf Amin will determine the success of his government.

In his inaugural address for the 2019-2024 term on Oct.20, Jokowi said among others, the target of his administration\'s programs for the next five years, was to lay the foundation to achieve the ideals of Indonesia Onward during the celebration of a century of Indonesian independence in 2045.

At that time, Indonesia is expected to have a per capita income of Rp 320 million a year. Based on World Bank data, in 2019, Indonesia\'s per capita income is about US$3,927 or equivalent to Rp 55.3 million per year.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati fulfills the invitation of President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/10/2019). President Joko Widodo continued inviting a number of figures to serve on his Cabinet.

The target is set amid various challenges. The results of a Kompas Research and Development survey conducted on Sept. 19- Oct. 4 2019, with 1,200 respondents in 34 provinces and with a margin of error of +/- 2.83 percent showed 58.8 percent of respondents were satisfied with the performance of the 2014-2019 Jokowi government.

Even though it is relatively high, the satisfaction level is below 65.1 percent recorded in January 2015. Now, a number of questions have also arisen in the community, for example regarding the future of fighting corruption, in guaranteeing civil liberties and in resolving human rights cases. The question arises amid the emergence of other problems, such as a slowdown in the global economy.

"Those who are not serious, not committed can be replaced in midway,"

Commitment

To overcome such challenges, President Jokowi asked the 38 officials appointed on Thursday to make seven commitments.

The commitments are; stay away from corruption; must work fast, work hard, and work productively; not get stuck in a monotonous routine; must be results oriented; always checking in on the field; and work seriously.

"Those who are not serious, not committed can be replaced in midway," said the President. When introducing his ministers, President Jokowi also delivered a number of tasks for them. Overcoming radicalism, for example, was mentioned when introducing Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Home Minister Tito Karnavian and Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi.

KOMPAS/INSAN ALFAJRI

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD waves his hand as he enters his office, Wednesday (23/10/2019).

While messages related to infrastructure development, among others, emerged when introducing Budi Karya Sumadi and Basuki Hadimuljono, who were reappointed as transportation minister and public works and housing minister, respectively.

Meanwhile, Yasonna H. Laoly, who was reappointed as law and human rights minister, received instructions about the plan to issue an omnibus law – legal instrument that covers a number of diverse or unrelated topics.

The five programs of focus discussed by Jokowi during his inauguration speech on Oct. 20 included the development of human resources; infrastructure development; simplification and trimming of regulatory constraints, which will be carried out through the drafting of the Employment Creation Law and the Micro, Small and Medium Law as an omnibus law. The other two are the simplification of bureaucracy and economic transformation.

To achieve the goals, the newly appointed presidential spokesman, Fadjroel Rachman, said each ministry and agency would be given a target to achieve government programs. The target will be assessed through a key performance indicator (KPI) that will be presented at the plenary Cabinet meeting on Thursday (today).

Give an opportunity

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla asked the public to support the Indonesia Onward Cabinet. "They are quite good people and some I know. We hope that the people will fully support and give them the opportunity to work. Maybe within a year or two, we can see the results of their work," said Kalla.

Separately, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nashir, reminded that ministers were not ordinary state officials, because they also represented the hopes of the people. With this expectation, they have to show good leadership.

ANTARA FOTO/M RISYAL HIDAYAT

Home Minister Tito Karnavian (right) walks with his predecessor, Tjahjo Kumolo (left), before the handover of his position at the Home Ministry, Jakarta, Wednesday (23/10/2019). President Joko Widodo officially installed Tito Karnavian as home minister in the ranks of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet.

Haedar also hopes the 38 officials appointed on Wednesday are all devoted to the interests of the nation and state, not the interests of groups or themselves.

The head of the executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama, Robikin Emhas, received questions from many kiai (religious leaders) related to the President\'s pick for religious affairs minister.

According to Robikin, the kiai understood that the religion affairs minister must be at the forefront in overcoming religious-based radicalism.

Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said he would design a number of programs to tackle radicalism. Meanwhile, Yasonna said, 74 laws were overlapping, which hampered efforts to increase investment. This problem will be addressed through an omnibus law.

Separately, Bivitri Susanti of the Indonesian School of Law, Jentera, said a breakthrough through the concept of the omnibus law should be not only intended to cut the number of laws but also to pay attention to the consistency, substance and neatness of the arrangements so that procedures become simpler and more targeted.

The interests of parties that might be behind the ministers need to be anticipated so that they do not cause problems in carrying out government programs.

Interest

The head of the Indonesian Institute of Political Research Center, Firman Noor, said he did not doubt the competence of a number of ministers from political parties. However, the interests of parties that might be behind the ministers need to be anticipated so that they do not cause problems in carrying out government programs.

Related to that, according to the Firman, it is necessary to evaluate the performance of the Cabinet every 100 days.

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Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Democratic Party, Hinca Panjaitan, said his party respected President Jokowi\'s decision to not include the Democrats in his government.

The political position of the Democrats for the next five years will be conveyed later by Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to all members of the party. (NTA/ INA/ LAS/ CAS/ IAN/AGE/ INK/ REK/ HAR)