Jakarta — Yose Rizal Damuri, the Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), praised the establishment of the Merah Putih Cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto. He noted that the creation of specialized ministries and new agencies demonstrates the government’s focused approach on specific issues.
Speaking at a CSIS media briefing titled “Responding to Prabowo-Gibran Cabinet: Implications, Risks, and Recommendations,” which was live-streamed on CSIS Indonesia’s YouTube channel on Friday (Oct. 25), Yose expressed optimism about the cabinet’s structure.
Yose explained, “This is a positive outcome from the formation of this cabinet. Although it appears to be a large cabinet, the advantage is that each ministry and agency has a more specialized portfolio to address specific areas that require attention.”
Providing an example, Yose pointed out a dedicated ministry responsible for overseeing Indonesia’s downstream industry, highlighting the government’s serious commitment to advancing this sector. He also mentioned an agency focused on managing the Free Nutritious Meals program, supervised by the Nutrition Agency, as another example of the government’s attention to priority areas.
Yose also mentioned foreign affairs, emphasizing the designation of a deputy minister specifically focused on issues related to the Middle East. He concluded, “This approach allows for more focused attention on critical issues deemed highly important.”
During the inaugural Merah Putih Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (Oct. 23), Prabowo highlighted the challenges of Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy. He urged ministers to proactively eliminate obstacles and inefficiencies, stating, “Our citizens often comment that government bureaucracy seems to make things harder rather than easier. Some even say, ‘if it can be made difficult, why make it easy?’ I urge our ministers to be bold and decisive in providing the best service for our people.”
