Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued a stern warning to his cabinet ministers, declaring that those who fail to perform their duties diligently and serve the public interest will be dismissed. This announcement came as Prabowo marked his 100th day in office on January 28, following his inauguration as Indonesia's eighth president on October 20. The warning was delivered on February 5 during an event commemorating the 102nd anniversary of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization.
Prabowo's administration is the largest in the nation's history, consisting of 48 ministers and 56 vice-ministers. Despite the challenges faced by his government, a recent poll conducted by Kompas newspaper's research unit revealed that 80.9% of Indonesians approve of Prabowo's performance so far. The high approval rating is attributed to his swift action in delivering on campaign promises, outpacing his popular predecessor, President Joko Widodo, who held approval ratings between 65 and 75% during his tenure.
However, Prabowo's early days in office have not been without controversy. Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi was interrogated by police in December as part of an investigation into an alleged online gambling scandal within the Communication and Digitalisation Ministry. Additionally, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia recently faced public backlash after reversing a decision to limit sales of 3kg canisters of subsidized cooking gas, leaving people struggling to find the essential commodity.
Prabowo emphasized that he tried to exercise patience during his initial 100 days, allowing time for self-correction among state apparatus and agencies. Nonetheless, he reiterated his commitment to removing any ministers who fail to fulfill their responsibilities to the people during a discussion with reporters. This approach underscores his determination to uphold accountability within his administration.
Leave a Reply