Sharing Power Through The Chair Of The Deputy Minister

President Joko Widodo (Special)

JAKARTA - It is reported that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will soon increase the number of deputy ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. This step is said to have been deliberately taken to pay off the president's political 'debt' to supporters who have not received rations.

The news of the increase in the number of deputy ministers was first conveyed by the Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP) Moeldoko. According to Moeldoko, there are six total deputy ministers who will be included in the cabinet. However, Moeldoko admitted that he did not know where the six deputy ministers would be placed.

A different statement was made by the Presidential Spokesperson, Fadjroel Rachman. Although he confirmed the plan to add deputy ministers, Fadjroel denied the number of six people that Moeldoko had submitted.

According to Fadjroel, currently there is only one additional deputy minister, namely the Deputy Minister of Education and Culture who will be appointed in accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 72 of 2019 concerning the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Meanwhile, another additional position is the Deputy Commander of the TNI, whose appointment is in accordance with the Presidential Decree 66 of 2019 concerning TNI Organizational Structure.

"So (the Perpres) which has been issued we will process it as soon as possible (the election of the vice minister), this is still in process," said Fadjroel in Jakarta, Sunday, September 11, 2019.

The President Commissioner of PT Adhi Karya Persero stated that the increase in the number of ministers was not only due to political debt. According to him, this plan is based on necessity. "Everything must point to a special or priority task," said Fadjroel.

Burdening the state budget

Although the palace said the deputy minister was needed to help the ministers work, Ujang Komarudin, a political observer at Al-Azhar University Indonesia, did not.

According to him, there is no need for additional deputy ministers who add to the burden of the state budget for operations. Moreover, some time ago 12 deputy ministers were appointed.

Moreover, the proportion of needs conveyed by the government is nothing more than an excuse. Ujang analyzed that the addition of deputy ministers to the cabinet for the 2019-2024 period was just politics of reciprocation.

Jokowi together with the leadership of supporting political parties (Special)

According to Ujang, it is difficult to deny the existence of efforts to accommodate the interests of those who contributed - but have not yet got a share of power - to Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin during the 2019 presidential election.

If you remember, after the inauguration of the previous 12 deputy ministers, Jokowi received criticism from several of his political parties for not receiving rations.

One of them is the Hanura Party. "So, so that they are silent and not criticize anymore, they will get positions as well. They could be given the position of Deputy Minister," said Ujang when contacted by VOI.

He said he wanted to save the budget

According to Ujang, the addition of the deputy minister's position is an example of the government's inconsistency regarding budget savings. In fact, Jokowi and his staff often remind us that the budget can be saved so that it can be enjoyed by the people.

But, at the same time, Ujang considered Jokowi adding to positions whose facilities and operations used the state budget.

"At the same time, for the sake of politics, (Jokowi) will add deputy ministers and that will burden the budget. The elites who support Jokowi are lucky, the people are disadvantaged. Elite supporters are happy, the people are biting their fingers," he said.

Previously, President Jokowi appointed 12 deputy ministers for eleven ministries on Friday, October 25, 2019 at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta.

Announcement of the name of the deputy minister by Jokowi-Ma'ruf (setkab.go.id)

Those inaugurated at that time were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar, Deputy Minister of Defense Wahyu Sakti Trenggono, Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid, Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara, Deputy Minister of PUPR John Wempi Wetipo.

In addition there were also Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong, Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga, Deputy Minister of PDTT Village Budi Arie Setiadi, Deputy Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Surya Tjandra, Deputy Minister of BUMN Budi Sadikin, Deputy Minister of BUMN Kartika Wirjoatmojo, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Economy Creative Angela Tanoesoedibjo.