December 19, 2024
JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto has received a barrage of criticism for appointing over 100 people to his Red and White Cabinet, which is likely now the world’s largest.
The problem is not only that the slew of new ministries and positions are expected to weigh on the state budget. It is also that some appointees appear to have won their appointments solely through their support for the Gerindra Party chairman’s presidential campaign.
But as a former military man, Prabowo seems happy to instill discipline in his cabinet, that is by keeping them under the watchful, martial eye of Maj. Teddy Indra Wijaya, the President’s cabinet secretary and former adjutant.
On several occasions that have been widely reported, top administration figures, even Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, have received calls from Teddy when they have not acted or spoken in line with Prabowo’s wishes.
In some cases, this technique may have been successful. Religious Development Envoy Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman offered his resignation after being reprimanded by Teddy for mocking an ice tea seller during a religious gathering that he was presiding over.
Prabowo said the minister’s resignation offer was “a courageous act” but did not say whether he would accept it.
Earlier, Prabowo, through Teddy, issued a warning in a WhatsApp group for cabinet members. In the message, a copy of which circulated among journalists, Teddy warned ministers to be careful in issuing letters on ministerial letterhead, “especially regarding personal events to avoid things that have the potential to become public controversies”.
The warning came after Villages and Regional Development Minister Yandri Susanto came under fire for using ministry letterhead for invitations to local leaders in Banten to attend an event marking the second anniversary of his mother’s death. Yandri later issued an apology.
These examples of bad behavior from cabinet members may have been well contained. But that doesn’t mean Prabowo’s hand-slapping method is deserving of praise.
Prabowo’s cabinet members now often refuse to answer unplanned questions from journalists and tend to limit attendance at public events. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who was previously known for being direct and outspoken, now often dodges questions, especially those related to the government’s economic policy and how exactly it plans to achieve its target of 8 percent growth.
While asking ministers to stay mum is not censorship of the public or the press, Teddy’s dreaded calls could well cut off access to information in the public interest, especially on government policy, and will eat away at perceptions of Prabowo’s transparency and accountability.
It’s better to prevent a public trust crisis than to patch one up afterward. Prabowo can do so by allowing his ministers to speak openly to the public and by ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of his administration. This can start with honesty about the country’s resources and the capabilities of his administration.
Instead of maintaining a large cabinet that he may struggle to control, it would be better for the President to prioritize his goals and hire only competent people. He must remember that his government is financed by the people, not a charity.
The same principle of prioritization applies to the many populist promises that Prabowo made during his presidential campaign, from 8 percent economic growth and building millions of affordable houses to free nutritious meals for children and breastfeeding mothers.
We understand that the President is well-meaning and only wants the best for the country. But without good planning and execution, any plan will go down the drain.
