The Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Yose Rizal Damuri, praised the formation of the Merah Putih Cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto. He highlighted the specialized ministries and new agencies within the cabinet, noting that this reflects a focused approach on specific issues. Yose expressed optimism about the cabinet’s structure, pointing out that each ministry and agency has a specialized portfolio to address specific areas of concern.
One example he mentioned was a dedicated ministry for overseeing Indonesia’s downstream industry, showing the government’s commitment to advancing this sector. Yose also mentioned an agency focused on managing the Free Nutritious Meals program, supervised by the Nutrition Agency, as evidence of the government’s attention to priority areas.
In terms of foreign affairs, Yose highlighted the appointment of a deputy minister specifically focused on the Middle East, allowing for more concentrated attention on critical issues in that region. During the inaugural Merah Putih Cabinet meeting, Prabowo emphasized the need to address challenges within Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy and encouraged ministers to be proactive in removing obstacles and inefficiencies to better serve the people.