Indonesia's Jokowi taps election archrival for defense minister
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
August 20, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2022
Indonesia's Jokowi taps election archrival for defense minister

World+Biz

Reuters
26 October, 2019, 04:40 pm
Last modified: 26 October, 2019, 04:41 pm

Related News

  • First coal shipment for Rampal power plant arrives from Indonesia
  • Indonesian GDP growth accelerates in Q2, beats forecast
  • Indonesia blocks Yahoo, Paypal, gaming websites over licence breaches
  • Malaysia says Indonesia agrees to lift freeze on sending migrant workers
  • Indonesian president to visit China next week

Indonesia's Jokowi taps election archrival for defense minister

Widodo named his chief rival and former general Prabowo Subianto as defense minister

Reuters
26 October, 2019, 04:40 pm
Last modified: 26 October, 2019, 04:41 pm
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is congratulated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as First Lady Iriana Widodo stands next to them, after the swearing-in ceremony during the inauguration at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 23, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto/Reuters
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is congratulated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as First Lady Iriana Widodo stands next to them, after the swearing-in ceremony during the inauguration at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 23, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto/Reuters

Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced his second-term cabinet on Wednesday, retaining former World Bank executive Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister and tapping the opposition leader as he seeks to push through reforms.

Widodo named his chief rival and former general Prabowo Subianto as defense minister, angering rights activists given accusations that he allowed abuses against civilians while in charge of Indonesia's special forces.

The co-founder of ride-sharing and payments firm Gojek as well as a former chairman of Inter Milan soccer club were also named to the cabinet, confirming earlier reports.

The make-up of the new cabinet was closely watched to see how many technocrats expected to heed Widodo's agenda to boost economic growth and investment were included. In the end, around half of the 34 new ministers are technocrats valued more for expertise in their fields than political loyalties.

"First don't be corrupt, create a clean system. Second, no separate ministerial vision and mission, only the presidential vision and mission," Widodo said while seated on the steps of the palace flanked by his ministers.

Indonesia last month saw the biggest student demonstrations in decades opposing new bills that critics say undermined the powers of the anti-corruption agency, known as KPK, and also threatened basic rights.

An activist group live-streamed a concert supporting anti-corruption efforts on Wednesday, and students have pledged to hold further rallies next week to pressure the government on a range of issues.

WIDODO BRINGS KEY RIVAL ABOARD

By bringing in Prabowo, Widodo's sole challenger in April's bitterly fought election, could make it easier for the government to enact legislation. With Prabowo's Gerindra party aboard the government now commands a 74% majority in parliament.

After his swearing in, a relaxed-looking Prabowo said he would immediately head to his new ministry. "I will learn the latest situation and then we will begin work," he told reporters.

Widodo chose ex-industry minister and ruling Golkar party chairman Airlangga Hartarto to head his economic team, while confirming the reappointment of economist Indrawati as finance minister. Indrawati has served in various administrations.

The administration will aim to revise 74 laws hampering investment by applying "omnibus laws", Widodo said, referring to legislation that encompasses diverse and unrelated issues.

REVIVE INVESTMENT

Luhut Pandjaitan, who was retained as coordinating minister for maritime affairs, also overseeing the natural resources sector and investment, said Widodo had ordered drafts of "omnibus laws" to be completed this year.

The aim was "to provide as much simplification to investment access as possible so foreign direct investment (FDI) can come in," said Pandjaitan.

FDI has been sluggish in recent years, due to factors such as regulatory uncertainty and weak commodity prices, and Widodo has complained Indonesia has not attracted as much manufacturing investment seeking relocation out of China compared to rivals.

Yose Rizal Damuri at Jakarta's Center for Strategic and International Studies said the presence of political party figures in the cabinet remained significant, and could hinder Widodo's reform campaign. "Party representatives may have mandates from their own parties," he said.

Widodo defended his political appointments, saying what was important is that they "are able to divide their time well".

Among the technocrats, Gojek CEO Nadiem Makarim was named education and culture minister. He said he had been given the mandate to "break down" the system to "innovate" and would focus on developing "competency-based and character-based" education.

"With 300,000 schools and 50 million students... the role of technology is going to be very big in impacting everything," Makarim told reporters.

Among other important economic posts, Arifin Tasrif, a former head of the state fertilizer maker, was named minister of energy and mineral resources. Erick Thohir, a billionaire businessman who was chairman of Inter Milan and ran Widodo's re-election campaign, was allotted the portfolio in charge of state-owned enterprises.

Top News

Indonesia

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Stories beneath the trade data
    Stories beneath the trade data
  • India also will be ashamed of FM Momen’s statement: Quader
    India also will be ashamed of FM Momen’s statement: Quader
  • Logo of BNP
    BNP slams Momen for 'asking India to keep PM Hasina's govt in power'

MOST VIEWED

  • Ukrainian service members are seen at a position near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine August 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dmytro Smolienko
    Explosions rock Russian-held areas far from Ukraine war front
  • Supporters of the Coordination Framework, a group of Shi'ite parties, gather during a sit-in, amid a political crisis, near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 13, 2022. REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani
    As Iraqi protesters rally, political deadlock leaves families without cash
  • Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    EU backs changing monkeypox vaccine injection method to boost supply
  • FILE PHOTO - Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with acting Governor of Kirov region Alexander Sokolov via a video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia August 9, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS
    Putin agreed to send IAEA mission to Ukraine plant, Macron's office says
  • Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustration picture taken February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration
    Taiwan says it has not been informed of 'Chip 4' meeting
  • Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., November 18, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
    Nasdaq leads Wall Street lower as rate hike worries spark tech rout

Related News

  • First coal shipment for Rampal power plant arrives from Indonesia
  • Indonesian GDP growth accelerates in Q2, beats forecast
  • Indonesia blocks Yahoo, Paypal, gaming websites over licence breaches
  • Malaysia says Indonesia agrees to lift freeze on sending migrant workers
  • Indonesian president to visit China next week

Features

Illustration: TBS

China-Bangladesh currency clearance agreement can increase trade by 'an unimaginable scale': Li Jiming, Ambassador of China

17h | Interviews
Postcrossing (which connects people through its website) is a system built for postcard enthusiasts, where anyone can sign up and create an account for free. Photo: Noor A Alam

Postcrossers: Reviving a lost art with strangers and postcards

16h | Panorama
We will be facing massive, recurring challenges in the coming years no matter what. Photo: Reuters

Holes in the recession story

1d | Panorama
Illustration: Bloomberg

What nonmonogamy can teach moonlighters and job jugglers

1d | Pursuit

More Videos from TBS

Amazing folding smartphone

Amazing folding smartphone

8h | Videos
How Russia gets advantage for geographical location?

How Russia gets advantage for geographical location?

10h | Videos
Is textbooks enough for students?

Is textbooks enough for students?

10h | Videos
134-year-old traditional sandwich of New York

134-year-old traditional sandwich of New York

15h | Videos

Most Read

1
From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
Banking

Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

2
Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil
Energy

Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil

3
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

5 crushed to death as BRT girder falls on car in Uttara

4
Photo: Collected
Economy

Bangladesh is not in a crisis situation: IMF

5
Migrant workers. Photo: UNB
Migration

Can Bangladesh benefit from Canada’s 10 lakh job vacancies?

6
Eight more banks make unusual gains from forex dealings
Banking

Eight more banks make unusual gains from forex dealings

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]