Technocrats, politicians top online poll for Jokowi cabinet

Jet Damazo-Santos

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Technocrats, politicians top online poll for Jokowi cabinet
The initial phase of the online poll carried out by the Jokowi Center, a volunteer group, receive inputs from 109,075 participants

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Several technocrats and politicians who supported President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo topped the first phase of the online poll being carried out by the Jokowi Center  to allow the public to provide inputs in the formation of the next cabinet.

The initial phase for what is called the People’s Proposed Alternative Cabinet, which was carried out over two weeks to Monday, Aug. 11, garnered inputs from 109,075 participants.

“This figure does not include the number of participants who voted twice. The figure is higher than the participants in a similar poll we carried out in April to choose a running mate for Jokowi,” the volunteer group said in a statement released late on Tuesday, Aug. 12. 

“It also shows the people’s high expectations for a professional cabinet,” the statement added.

A cabinet composed of technocrats or politicians with professional backgrounds – a break from the previous practice of allocating several ministerial seats to political parties – was one of Jokowi’s campaign promises, and one that he has frequently reiterated. He has formed a 5-person transition team that would set out strategic priorities and provide inputs in the selection of cabinet members. 

“Jokowi has said that he will hear our aspirations,” Jokowi Center spokesperson Wisnu Prasetya Utomo told Rappler on Wednesday, August 13. But he added that this was a proposal and Jokowi had the final say on who he wanted in his cabinet. 

Jokowi’s criteria are courage to take action, integrity, and competence, according to transition team member Akbar Faisal, the Jakarta Globe reported. 

Online poll results

In the Jokowi Center’s online poll, the public were given 3 options for each of the 34 ministries for people to vote for, and included a box for people to suggest other names. (READ: Jokowi crowdsources his cabinet on Facebook)

It received a total of 837 suggested names, some of whom got more votes than the original 3 names proposed.

Interestingly, Jokowi’s rival, former general Prabowo Subianto, was one of the names suggested for the defense and agriculture ministries. However, he only got a little over 3,000 votes for each of the posts, or 3% of the total.

Among the notable results are:

  • Anies Baswedan, the popular rector of Paramadina University and a member of Jokowi’s transition team, received 50% of the votes for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs.
  • Faisal Basri, a highly regarded Indonesian economist and a former candidate for Jakarta governor, topped polls for two ministries. He received 53% for public housing, and 53% for national development planning.
  • Yohanes Surya, a renowed Indonesian physicist and founder of the Surya Institute, received 46% for the Ministry of Research and Technology.
  • Onno Purbo, an IT expert and advocate of cheap Internet access, got 53% for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 
  • Frans Wanggai, a forestry activist and the former rector of Papua State University, received 49% for the Ministry of Forestry.
  • Danang Parikesit, the chairman of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI), received 36% for the Ministry of Transportation.
  • Law professor and anti-graft activist Saldi Isra got 28% for the Ministry of Justice, just slightly above Gadjah Mada University Corruption Study Center director Zainal Arifin Mochtar, who got 25%.

A number of politicians from Jokowi’s party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and those that supported his presidential bid, also topped polls. 

“Indeed there were many from political parties, but that’s because they are professionals and not because of their party affiliation,” Wisnu said.

These politicians are:

  • Puan Maharani, the daughter of former president and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri, received 40% for the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection. 
  • Senior PDI-P politician Pramono Anung, who is also deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, received 40% for the State Secretariat.
  • Another PDI-P member, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, who has been making headlines for recently for closing down the ‘Dolly’ red-light district in her city, got 51% for the Administrative Reforms Ministry.
  • PDI-P politician Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, an actress-turned-lawmaker with an activist streak who failed in her bid to become West Java governor, won 52% of the votes for the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.
  • PDI-P lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno, a member of Jokowi’s economic team, and Bank Indonesia governor Agus Martowardojo got 27% each for the Ministry of Finance.
  • National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, who is currently the manpower and transmigration minister, got 28% for the Coordinating Ministry for People’s Welfare, slightly above the 27% received by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, the head of the President’s Delivery Unity for Development, Monitoring and Oversight (UKP4).
  • Nasdem politician and lawmaker Akbar Faisal, also a member of Jokowi’s transition team, received 29% for rural development.

A few well-performing incumbents also received strong support, either for their current portfolio or one the public believed they would be better suited for:

  • Well-respected Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa received 62% – the highest percentage of support given to any candidate in the online poll – for the same ministry.
  • Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Pangestu received 47% for her old post at the Trade Ministry.
  • Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad received 40% for the Home Affairs Ministry. 
  • Deputy Health Minister Ali Ghufron Mukti could get a promotion with 48% voting for him to become health minister. 
  • Coordinating Minister for the Economy Chairul Tanjung, who was only appointed in May, received 33% to remain in the same post, just above the 32% State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan got for that same post.

A second phase of the online polls will begin on Wednesday, August 13, with the top 4 candidates from the first phase. The results will be released in mid-September. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!