The Palace Expressed The Reason Prabowo Added Deputy Ministers At The Ministry Of Home Affairs And The Ministry Of Health

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated a number of new officials of the Red and White Cabinet at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/10/2025). (ANTARA)

The Presidential Palace finally explained the reasons behind President Prabowo Subianto's decision to add deputy ministerial positions in two strategic ministries, namely the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) and the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

The President officially appointed Komjen (Ret.) Pol Akhmad Wiyagus as deputy interior ministers (Wamendagri) and Benjamin Paulus Octavianus as deputy health minister (Wamenkes).

The inauguration was based on Presidential Decree Number 32 M of 2025 concerning the dismissal and appointment of deputy ministers of the Red and White Cabinet for the term of 2024-2029.

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi emphasized that the addition of deputy minister seats was carried out to optimize government performance, especially in the two sectors that had a large workload.

"In the context of coaching and ensuring development in each region, both provinces and districts/cities, going well and smoothly, the president feels the need to increase strength at the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 8.

According to Prasetyo, the existence of an additional deputy minister of Home Affairs will help oversee development in 514 regencies/cities and 38 provinces in more inclusive way.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Benjamin Paulus as Deputy Minister of Health is considered important to support the implementation of national strategic programs, including the free nutritious eating program (MBG).

"The addition of the Deputy Minister of Health is also to help solve a number of problems in the National Nutrition Agency so that the program runs optimally," added Prasetyo.

With this inauguration, the composition of deputy ministers in the two ministries is now increasing. The Ministry of Home Affairs has three deputy ministers, namely Bima Arya Sugiarto, Ribka Haloek, and Akhmad Wiyagus. Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Health, there are now two deputy ministers, namely Dante Saksono Harbuwono and Benjamin Paulus Octavianus.

Akhmad Wiyagus is a retired National Police officer with long experience, including as the Lampung Regional Police Chief (2022) and the West Java Regional Police Chief (2023). Meanwhile, Benjamin Paulus is known as a health professional, active in the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) and the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI).

President Prabowo's move marks the government's commitment to strengthening the ministry's structure to accelerate the realization of national priority programs.