Ma'ruf Amin Says Prabowo May Have More Ministers If Needed
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8 May 2024 09:18 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said that it is possible for Prabowo Subianto to have more ministers in his cabinet, and what is crucial is that professionals occupy the posts.
Ma'ruf opined that the current 34 ministerial posts in President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's government cabinet are quite ideal. However, he said, the number could change.
“If needed, it could be more than that,” the VP said as quoted from a video statement released by the Vice President's Secretariat on Tuesday, May 7.
The former chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) emphasized that the most vital issue is that the ministers, both from party and non-party circles, must be professionals.
Majalah Tempo highlighted Prabowo's plan to expand his cabinet in this week’s edition published on May 6, 2024. The President-elect planned to increase the number of ministries from 34 to 38 to 40 in an effort to accommodate the coalition and have control over the House of Representatives (DPR). This would make it easier for various government programs to be approved by lawmakers.
However, this requires a revision of Law No. 39 of 2008 on State Ministries, which sets the maximum number of ministers at 34. Another option is to submit a judicial review of the regulation to the Constitutional Court or for the president to issue a government regulation in lieu of law. Prabowo's team also said that the plan is possible by increasing the number of coordinating ministers, which is not regulated by Law 39/2008. At present, there are four coordinating ministers.
Gerindra Party’s Executive Chair, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, did not deny his chief patron’s plans to expand ministries. “We are currently reviewing and simulating whether the number of ministries should remain the same or be increased as needed,” he said.
Prabowo still has time to assemble a cabinet before his inauguration on October 20, 2024, which marks the end of Jokowi's government. In a separate statement, President Jokowi declined to comment on Prabowo's plans.
DANIEL A. FAJRI
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