Cabinet Secretary Underscores Importance of Cabinet Meeting Minutes for Gov’t Policies

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Head of the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) M. Yusuf Ateh, and Vice Cabinet Secretary Fadlansyah Lubis attend Coordination Meeting between Cabinet Secretariat and Ministries/Institutions, Thursday (10/20), in Jakarta. (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Teguh)

In a bid to improve the Government’s performance in following the President’s decision and directive in the cabinet meetings as the Cabinet’s highest decision-making forum, Cabinet Secretariat Thursday (10/20) held a coordination meeting between Cabinet Secretariat and ministries/institutions, which adopted the theme “Minutes of Cabinet Meetings as a Reference in Formulating, Determining, and Implementing National Policies”.

“This coordination meeting is held with an aim to make our cooperation more effective so we can address the main issue. On this auspicious occasion, we would like to tell you the importance of minutes of the cabinet meetings, both limited and internal meetings,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said in the opening of the event.

He also reminded all the directive of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on minutes of cabinet meeting used as the reference in drawing up policies of both regional governments and Central Government.

“According to the President, minutes of the meeting have been referred at least 11 times in drawing up regulations including regulation of the minister, head of institutions, and regional head,” he said.

Pramono went on to say that the Government officials are advised to immediately follow up on decisions and directives of the President mentioned in the minutes of cabinet meeting.

Echoing a similar thought, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD underscored that the decisions made by the President in a cabinet meeting are legally binding and must be implemented as a national policy by all ranks of the Government.

Mahfud also said that the decision is the result of a democratic government policy-making process; hence, he added, the decision must be implemented immediately.

He also called on ministries/institutions to improve their coordination in order to implement mandates of the constitution.

In the meantime, Head of the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) Muhammad Yusuf Ateh pointed out that the decisions made in a cabinet meeting led and/or attended by the President and Vice President as the highest decision-making forum in Indonesia must be followed up by implementing policies.

“The minutes of the meeting are documents that must be referred to and followed up to be implemented,” Ateh said.

According to him, the BPKP has a duty to guard and ensure the implementation of the Government’s policies/decisions generated from a cabinet meeting adheres to the principle of good governance. He also underscored the importance of synergy and accountability in implementing the Government’s policies. (FID/RF/UN) (RAS/EP)