JAKARTA: A public spat between two ministers has cast a spotlight on the unity of President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet, with analysts saying it reflects weak coordination and unhealthy competition within the cabinet that could hinder the government programmes.
The dispute erupted after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa (pic) questioned why domestic shipyard business owners had yet to receive orders from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry for shipbuilding projects, despite available government funding.
The remark was made during a business forum hosted by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Tuesday (Feb 10) to discuss how to improve the country’s shipbuilding industry.
“How many of you have received orders from the maritime affairs ministry?” Purbaya asked shipyard business representatives sitting in the audience, who responded that none of them had received any orders.
“This does not make any sense. I have allocated the funds, yet there are no orders. What is going on?” Purbaya said, noting that this situation contradicted the government’s agenda to boost economic growth by supporting domestic industries.
Maritime affairs minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono responded hours later on Instagram, urging Purbaya to verify the accuracy of his information before making public statements.
“Dear finance minister, so that you understand and are well-informed, the funds for the shipbuilding project come from a foreign loan from the United Kingdom government. Please ask your staff first whether the ship funds have actually been disbursed,” Trenggono said.
The disagreement quickly gained attention on social media, prompting calls from lawmakers, including those in Prabowo’s ruling coalition, for cabinet members to maintain unity and focus on supporting the President in executing the government’s policies and programs.
“Presidential aides must focus on helping the President and avoid internal intrigue,” lawmaker Ahmad Yohan from the National Mandate Party (PAN) said, as quoted by state-run radio station RRI.
Political communication analyst Kunto Adi Wibowo from Padjajaran University described the public spat as “not an ideal form of communication” between high-ranking state officials, warning that it indicates “weak coordination” in the cabinet.
“If they rarely even talk to each other, how can public affairs be properly resolved?” Kunto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday, noting that most public issues were cross-sectoral in nature and required close coordination between ministries.
Kunto also pointed to what he described as “a tendency for unhealthy competition among ministers seeking to attract attention” either from Prabowo or the public, through media exposure and social media, warning it could become problematic if it undermined the government’s goals.
The disagreement also fuelLed speculation that Purbaya’s outspoken and blunt approach, including reprimanding state officials over the state budget, has caused unease among some ministers amid rumoUrs of an upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
“Purbaya’s communication style is a realistic one.
Discussions about money are naturally sensitive and can reflect on one’s personal credibility, as they are closely tied to performances and outcomes,” political analyst Wasisto Raharjo from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said.
A day after the disagreement, on Wednesday, Purbaya insisted that his earlier statement had been based on information from shipyard operators, but said he was open to correction.
He said that Trenggono’s data was accurate, “perhaps my data was wrong”. Later that day, Trenggono posted a photo of himself dining with Purbaya, captioned: “That’s all folks. Back to work", in an apparent bid to signal that the matter had been resolved. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
