6 New Ministers Are Expected Not To Make New Policies

President Joko Widodo introduces six new ministers (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appointed six people to replace a number of ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. They were introduced by President Jokowi as a minister at the State Palace, Jakarta on Tuesday, December 22.

They are Tri Rismaharini replacing Juliari Peter Batubara who stumbled on a bribery case as Minister of Social Affairs, Sandiaga Uno as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries replacing Edhy Prabowo who was a KPK suspect, Yaqut Choilil Coumas as Minister of Religion replacing Fachrul Razi , Budi Gunadi Sadikin replaced Terawan Agus Putranto as Minister of Health, and Muhammad Lutfi as Minister of Trade replacing Agus Supratmanto.

After being introduced to the public, they conveyed a number of things they would work on after being inaugurated today, Wednesday, December 23.

Risma, for example, said that she had two work programs as the Minister of Social Affairs, namely improving data on aid recipients and empowerment programs.

Meanwhile, as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Trenggono, who replaced Edhy Prabowo due to being caught in a bribery case for the export of lobster seeds or fries at the KPK, said he would study and evaluate the ministry he leads. This is done to exploit the potential that exists in Indonesian waters.

Likewise, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who is currently the Minister of Health after previously serving as Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, said that he was assigned to President Jokowi to make people live back to normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he did not mention what steps he would take, Budi ensured that he would work as well as possible so that the mandate given to him could be carried out properly.

The various names appointed to enter the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet are indeed President Jokowi's prerogatives. However, the chairman of the DPP Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Mardani Ali Sera from the start reminded anyone who entered the cabinet must be those who were ready to work optimally.

They are required to work quickly because currently the community is in a difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The people are struggling to find (ministers, ed) who can work immediately," Mardani told reporters, Tuesday, December 22.

Apart from being able to work right away, this member of the DPR RI also reminded the minister chosen by Jokowi to be someone with a clean and clear track record.

"So look for someone who can work immediately, clean, and honestly," he said.

Meanwhile, Gerindra Party politician Fadli Zon congratulated the new ministers inaugurated by President Joko Widodo, Tuesday, December 22.

Fadli Zon reminded that these ministers do not have their own vision and carry out Jokowi's vision and mission.

"Congratulations to work for all the new ministers who have been announced by the President @jokowi. All right, there are improvements and progress in these ministries. Gentle reminder, there is no ministerial vision and mission, the President's vision and mission," said Fadli via his Twitter account @fadlizon, Tuesday. , 22 December.

Congratulations to work for all the new ministers that the President @jokowi announced. As a mandate, there are improvements and progress in these ministries. Gentle reminder, there is no ministerial vision and mission, there is no president's vision and mission.

- FADLI ZON (Youtube: Fadli Zon Official) (@fadlizon) December 22, 2020

It is hoped that the new minister will not do much acrobatics

Public policy observer from Gadjah Mada University, Satria Aji Imawan, said that the change of ministers at the end of this year aims to make 2021 a pandemic-free year accompanied by economic recovery. So that, after being inaugurated, these new ministers should not do much acrobatics by making policy maneuvers.

Moreover, since the beginning, President Jokowi has reminded his ministers not to have their own vision and mission. Everything, he said, must be in accordance with the president's vision and mission.

"This means that ministers are not allowed to carry out many innovations in public policy planning. The president provides space for innovation on the implementation side with the aim of how policies can reach the public," Satria told reporters.

Apart from that, this reshuffle or renovation should not be an arena for galloping new breakthroughs. According to him, in the face of a pandemic, all ministers must unite to carry out the president's direction.

"Take Tri Rismaharini, for example, who previously served as Mayor of Surabaya. Mrs. Risma must be given an understanding that her role as Minister of Social Affairs is not to make policy breakthroughs but how social assistance can be delivered on target based on the most actual data in June 2021," he said.

Satria also gave an example of Sandiaga Uno. He said, as Menparekraf, the former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta must be able to work hand in hand with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy to design comprehensive policies so that tourism will grow and increase in the coming year or create post-pandemic resurrection scenarios.

In the future, Satria also hopes that communication will improve both vertically and horizontally. This is important to do, especially since the reshuffle is considered to be aimed at solving the pandemic problem in the country.

"During a crisis like this, a cabinet reshuffle must be put in place as an improvement in the performance of not only individuals but also institutions as a whole. Thus, the new minister must be able to communicate better vertically, namely with fellow ministers and horizontally, namely to the president and deputy, as well as all the people Indonesia, "he concluded.