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 as a reflection of the government’s focused approach on specific issues. Yose expressed optimism about the cabinet’s structure and emphasized the importance of each ministry and agency having a specialized portfolio to address specific areas of concern.
For example, he mentioned a dedicated ministry for overseeing Indonesia’s downstream industry, showing the government’s commitment to advancing this sector. Yose also pointed out an agency focused on managing the Free Nutritious Meals program, supervised by the Nutrition Agency, as an indication of the government’s attention to priority areas.
In the realm of foreign affairs, Yose noted the designation of a deputy minister specifically focusing on Middle East issues, highlighting the benefits of such a focused approach on critical issues. During the cabinet’s inaugural meeting, President Prabowo emphasized the need to address challenges in Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy and encouraged ministers to eliminate obstacles and inefficiencies to provide the best service for the people.
