TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As someone who is used to efficiency, Joko Widodo expects to be running a competent cabinet following his October 20 inauguration. This is why his transition team contains a working group whose work is solely to come up with the right ministerial structure. So far, he has been given five options: maintain the cabinet with 34 ministries, cut it down to 27 ministers, set up 20-24 ministries or a cabinet based on Sukarno's Trisakti ideology and lastly, a merger of the four concepts.
In the merger option, for example, the Agriculture and Fisheries ministries will be merged to become the Food Sufficiency Ministry. But all that is currently being studied. Jokowi will wait until September 15 before assigning his selected candidates in the cabinet he has opted for. His deputy, Jusuf Kalla on the other hand, is more daring, preferring the 34 ministries as the ideal structure.
Although he wants a cabinet that is dexterous and capable, Jokowi must review the excessive number of employees in each ministry. Merging two ministries will create problems of where to place them. "From my experience as mayor and governor, the unit chief cannot be immediately eliminated," said Jokowi. He explained to Tempo reporter Ananda Teresia on the cabinet he hopes for. Excerpts:
What kind of cabinet are you looking for?
A strong one that can carry out programs fast. I don't care whether it's fat or thin, or even an athletic cabinet.
From the five options submitted by the transition team, which is the most effective?
The most important, in my view, is the one to make it easier in implementing work programs, easy for the minister. I seek an office that can plan effectively and work on it quickly. I don't want anything complex.
Can complexities be discarded by streamlining the current structure?
I have already said, I'm not referring to an athletic cabinet, a slim one or a fat one. The cabinet must be strong and implement programs that would benefit the people.
When will the cabinet structure be decided on?
Mid-September. After that's done, I will wait one or two days before placing the right people in it. I give them a deadline on September 15 to come up with cabinet options. But once again, the transition team does not have a name. What should we do to prepare for the priority option? But once again, the transition team has not divulged any name, just the cabinet structure.
Can members of the transition team later become candidates for the cabinet?
It can go both ways. The decision is in my hands. The important thing is that the cabinet can work and resolve problems.
Does this mean you are able to look at the candidates?
Of course. I've gotten so many applicants. Not just scores but hundreds of thousands of names have come in. I will match them with our needs.
Is Jusuf Kalla involved in the transition team?
We communicate often from home or at the transition office. Pak JK follows developments on the cabinet structure as reported by the team.
Pak Kalla said many times that the 34-ministry cabinet would be more effective. What do you think?
Once again, I will make the final decision. About mid-September. (*)
Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
