Ministers Shouldn’t Make Strategic Policies as Gov’t Term Ends: President Jokowi

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung answers questions from the reporters at his office in Jakarta, Wednesday (2/10). Photo by: JAY/PR.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed all Cabinet Ministers not to make strategic decision at the end of the 2014-2019 term.

“Everything must be reported to the President in Limited Cabinet Meeting or Plenary Cabinet Meeting. During these remaining 18 days, (the cabinet ministers) are expected to complete policy implementation,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung told the reporters at his office in Jakarta, Wednesday (2/10).

The Cabinet Secretary cited an example of the instruction of the President to Coordinating Minister for the Economy to complete measures on simplification of licensing process. He added that the Government is currently drafting the Omnibus Law. “Hopefully it will be a legacy of the existing cabinet to the next cabinet,” he said.

Pramono went on to say that Cabinet Ministers cannot make any strategic policies at the end of the administration without any approval from the President and the Vice President.

For the record, President Jokowi has appointed Hanif Dhakiri (Minister of Manpower) as ad interim Minister of Youth and Sports to replace Imam Nahrawi, Tjahjo Kumolo (Minister of Home Affairs) as ad interim Minister of Law and Human Rights to replace Yasonna Laoly, and Darmin Nasution (Coordinating Minister for the Economy) as ad interim Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture to replace Puan Maharani.

“The last plenary cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow and workload for coordination has decreased, so Pak Darmin is appointed to replace Mbak Puan,” Pramono explained.

He further said that it is not possible to appoint any new cabinet minister in these remaining 18 days, since the newly-appointed minister should learn many things, including cabinet meeting procedures.

“On these remaining 18 days, (cabinet ministers) are expected to complete their tasks, and they should not appoint high-ranking officials,” he said.

Regarding the possibility that ad interim ministers will become ministers in the next period, Pramono said that the appointment of cabinet ministers is the President’s prerogative. (FID/MAY/JAY/ES)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Yuyu Mulyani