Deputy Finance Ministers Thomas Djiwandono (left) and Suahasil Nazara (right) greet journalists upon arriving at president-elect Prabowo Subianto's residence on Jl. Kertanegara in South Jakarta on Oct. 15, 2024. Prabowo has summoned individuals deemed suitable to be members of his cabinet since Oct 14. - Photo: Antara
JAKARTA: Potential candidates for minister and deputy minister positions in the upcoming administration of Prabowo Subianto arrived at the private home of the president-elect in Hambalang, West Java, on Wednesday (Oct 16) morning to join a two-day orientation programme.
The orientation programme kicked off on Wednesday after Prabowo interviewed more than 100 figures, ranging from social media influencers to incumbent cabinet ministers, as part of the vetting process in the formation of the new cabinet.
Antara news agency reported that vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka joined the orientation programme.
Also joining Prabowo were the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Agus Subianto and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Antara also reported that among potential cabinet ministers who arrived in the early morning of Wednesday were Agrarian Reform Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiaji and State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.
Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Prabowo's spokesperson, said on news channel Kompas TV that the briefing was intended for "the ministers to build a mutual understanding with Prabowo."
Dahnil said the topics of the briefing revolved around anti-corruption measures and the economy.
Prabowo's agenda includes accelerating economic growth to 8 per cent from the current 5 per cent while ending poverty and malnutrition in the nation of 275 million people.
He is also pushing a multi-billion-dollar programme giving free meals to 20 million schoolchildren and pregnant women.
"Prabowo wants to ensure there is awareness among all ministers, among all his subordinates [...] to achieve the 8 per cent economic growth," Dahnil said.
Dahnil also said the briefing would touch on geopolitical issues, without providing details.
Prabowo has said that he will keep his foreign policy non-aligned to any major power, whether that be China or the United States. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
