IO, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (“Jokowi”) expressed his regret and apologized to all supporting parties that supported his re-election as president. He stated that he could only select 34 out of the 300 names submitted to him for ministerial positions. In a democracy, it is only natural that some people are selected into the Cabinet and others are not. After all, it is a selection process. “In other words, there are probably more people disappointed instead of pleased, and I believe some of the disappointed ones are present here. Therefore, I apologize for not being able to accommodate everyone, as there are only 34 seats available,” Jokowi said as he opened the Great Deliberations X of the Pancasila Youths in Jakarta on Saturday (26/10/2019).
A cadre of the Pancasila Youths, who is also the General Chairman of the People’s Conscience Party (Hati Nurani Rakyat – “Hanura”), Oesman Sapta Odang (“OSO”), also attended the event. Hanura Party is known to have supported Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin during the recent 2019 Presidential Elections, but none of the Hanura cadres obtained a position, whether as a minister, deputy minister, or official equal to minister, even though Jokowi has appointed 34 ministers, 4 officials equal to ministers, and 12 deputy ministers.
Responding to Jokowi’s apology to his supporters, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan – “PDIP”)’s General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto stated that such an apology shows Jokowi’s humility, despite his right and authority in organizing his Cabinet. “In other words, the President has shown the qualities of a humble leader. He showed that even though he has prerogative rights, but he attempted to consider the interest of others, even though it is impossible to please everyone,” he said at Bulungan Stadium, Jakarta, on Monday (28/10/2019).
Hasto further stated that all leaders have the duty of fighting for the sake of their people, even though, again, it is impossible to please everyone. He quoted the words of Apple Inc.’s founder Steve Jobs: ““If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader – sell ice cream.” In other words, Steve Jobs stated that a leader is not an ice-cream man whose duty is to make everyone happy. Leaders have the responsibility of making progress.
The measure of a leader is on the results of his political decisions – do they benefit the people? Do they satisfy the aspirations of the people? Also, he is measured from his ability to shoulder such responsibilities, not in making everyone happy,” he said.
Separately, Chairwoman of PDIP’s Central Leadership Council (Dewan Pimpinan Pusat – “DPP”) Puan Maharani stated that it is only natural for Jokowi not to include all of his coalition parties into his Cabinet. “It is literally impossible to get everyone into the Cabinet. Does it matter? You don’t need to be in the Cabinet to develop our nation – the party can still help Jokowi somewhere outside of it,” she said at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (28/10/2019).
Yet Puan reiterates that none of the ministers, equal officials, and deputy ministers were appointed to accommodate political parties. Some ministries simply have more duties and responsibilities than others, and it is necessary to appoint deputy ministers for these ministries in order to avoid burdening the relevant ministers too much. She categorically denies that the vice-ministerial position was created to share power: “Jokowi selected people with the capacity and capability to work, and has considered the urgency of creating the deputy-ministerial post. These ministries have so many issues and problems to resolve, more than the rest. Therefore, Insha Allah, if Allah allows it, the presence of these vice ministers will help these ministries resolve their issues faster than in the previous term,” she said. (Dan)