TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Having had to change jobs from being CEO of the state-owned railway company KAI, to transportation minister in the newly-formed cabinet of President Joko Widodo, Ignasius Jonan describes his new responsibilities through an interesting analogy. Whereas his worldview used to be from a train, for the next five years, he must view everything from a helicopter. "Each area has its own specific problem but the four dimensions of my new responsibility land, sea, air and railway must get equal attention," said Jonan.
True to his word, for the required photo session, he refused to pose in front of anything that had the logo of a transportation company, not even with those depicting Indonesia's marine resources, so much flouted by the president as the country's new source of future prosperity. "Just take normal pictures," said Jonan leaning on a massive desk, adding that "I work in the dining pantry because this desk is too big."
Jonan himself describes his new responsibilities as a change in function not a leap and began to divide his work between what can be 'sped up' and which ones should take precedence. "I don't need fancy [goals]. The plan to build 25 new sea ports is manageable, but it needs time. What is in front of our eyes will be prioritized." Among the goals will be to facilitate passenger access to ships and open up options to send cargo in passenger ships, so long as it is doable and safety is guaranteed.
Last Wednesday, Jonan met with the Tempo team, comprising Hermien Y. Kleden, Agustina Widiarsi, Kartika Candra and Retno Sulistyowati, for a candid two-hour special interview in his new office in Central Jakarta.
What is your strategy to improve the Transportation Ministry's performance? Any specific objectives?
The priority of this ministry is to support all of the government's programs, as instructed by the president. So there are no minister's vision or mission, just those of the president. A minister just executes the operations in his respective area.
So how do you plan to interpret and implement the president's vision and mission through your ministry?
First, all licensing from the Transportation Ministry must not be complicated. This service must be proactive to prevent infrastructure bottlenecks in the area of transportation. That is the long-term plan, with continuing improvements. Secondly, investments must be aimed at achieving equitable development. Thirdly, the organization must be made efficient.
How do you define the sea toll program, which President Jokowi has been touting?
The sea toll program is not about building a toll road over the sea. The distribution of prosperity which translates into the sea toll is aimed at ensuring that the price of goods at the eastern and western ends of Indonesia don't differ much. One of the reasons for the high price of commodities is the lack of adequate transportation. So, it's the duty of this ministry to provide the transportation facilities.
What needs to be renovated for this sea toll program? The ministry already has services.
Look. Cargo transportation can never-not be based on a charter. Very rarely. In railways, small parcels would have its own small car. So, whether its empty or full, I require them to keep on operating. I would like to try this with all passenger ships. If the regulations allow and it's safe, passenger ships can also take in cargo. So, every route would carry some cargo. I think that would be effective.
Do you have plans to trim your organization?
Its function will be optimized so they become more effective. This organization has worked as much as it can. Now it just needs to improve in terms of method, attitude and establish the culture of providing services. Just that.
Will you rejuvenate the organization, as you did at KAI?
I was at KAI for five years and eight months. I've only been here two weeks. The meaning of rejuvenation can be quite dangerous. What I will do is promote, move staff around and and other programs in line with existing regulations. There must be no forming of cliques, no money issues, no bribing to get a promotion. No way. There is only one essential factor: everything must be performance-based. Full stop!
We heard that not all your employees are comfortable with your leadership style. What do you say?
A leader is like a fisherman. He won't catch fish in muddy waters. He might catch one, but it will be a small one, to be thrown in the water again. Yet, you're not allowed to dig deeper, so how do I do it? It wouldn't be ethical. I will defend my people, but above all else, I defend the good, and the public that has been paying their taxes and our salary. (*)
Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
