On Oct 20, President Prabowo Subianto named Indonesia's largest-ever Cabinet since 1966. With 109 members - inclusive of ministers, vice-ministers and heads of national agencies - it dwarfs his predecessor loko Widodo's 34-member team.
Why the need for such a plus-size Cabinet? A number of factors are in play.
When former president Sukarno cobbled together his short-lived 132-member Dwikora Cabinet 2, it was done at a time of political and economic turmoil. The circumstances in 2024 are quite different.
In his inaugural speech, Mr Prabowo outlined with optimism a governing vision affixed on the belief that the country's natural endowments, namely its extensive maritime area and natural resource wealth, would become the foundation of a local industrialisation strategy that would enable Indonesia to become one of the world's leading economies.
Given this vision, the "Red and White Cabinet" - named with the colours of the national flag in mind - has a big job on its hands.
To achieve his goal, Mr Prabowo wants to increase annual economic growth to 8 per cent from the current 5 per cent by the end of his five-year term. He also has an ambitious spending programme that includes higher defence spending and pay increases for civil servants, plus a programme to provide free school meals for millions of children as well as nutritional support for pregnant women.
Mr Prabowo has also emphasised in numerous post-election speeches plans to reduce poverty, manage corruption, and improve food and energy self-sufficiency.
Meeting these targets over his five-year term is going to be a tall order. Mr Prabowo is the oldest president ever sworn into office in Indonesia. He must calculate that this may be his only term in office, making it even more pressing that he is able to succeed in leaving a legacy as a strong leader who paved the way for Indonesia to achieve greatness.
WHY BIG IS SEEN AS BETTER
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 30, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 30, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Percival Everett wins US National Book Award for fiction
American author Percival Everett won the US National Book Award for fiction on Nov 20 for his novel James, a propulsive and slyly funny retelling of American writer Mark Twain's Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn (1884) from the perspective of Huck's companion, an enslaved man named James.
Actor Jussie Smollett's conviction for staged attack overturned
American actor Jussie Smollett's conviction for fabricating a racist and homophobic hate crime in Chicago in 2019 was overturned on Nov 21 on due process grounds.
K-pop CD output draws fire as plastic waste talks loom
SEOUL - K-pop music may be South Korea's buzziest export, but the industry needlessly creates mountains of plastic in its home market by churning out CDs that most fans do not even listen to, critics say.
Actress Yvonne Lim returning to Singapore after 10 years in Taiwan
Singaporean actress Yvonne Lim is ready for a new chapter in her life. The 48-year-old announced on social media on Nov 21 that she has opened a YouTube channel.
Striking scenes from abstract triptych in Puppet Origin Stories
A wilfully abstract triptych of stories that make up the third edition of Puppet Origin Stories will frustrate the theatregoer in search of meaning, but delight those who can surrender to the weird and affecting visual scenes crafted on stage.
Kim Soo-hyun samples local food and finds it 'very satisfying'
The K-drama star is here to promote his new series as part of Disney's showcase of upcoming Asian titles
Entrepreneur rediscovers her need for speed
Ms Janice Oo lives out the famous line from the 1986 Hollywood flick, Top Gun, when the lead character \"Maverick\", played by Tom Cruise, declared: \"I feel the need, the need for speed.\"
Timeless Velar refreshed with hybrid engine
The model by Range Rover is relaxing to drive, but the controls feel lighter and less direct than those of its rivals
Wish come true for BYD buyers with families
The M6 is the first mid-sized electric seven-seater to be available here
Subtle serenity
Newly-weds pick clean, functional Japandi aesthetic for their HDB flat
