With More Deputy Ministers, What Are the Risks of Prabowo’s Fat Cabinet? Reporter Hendrik Yaputra October 10, 2025 | 01:53 pm TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto added more members to the Red and White Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The Head of State appointed a Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and a Deputy Minister of Health.The Head of State appointed Akhmad Wiyagus as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. With this appointment, the position of Deputy Minister of Home Affairs is now filled by three people, namely Bima Arya Sugiarto, Ribka Haluk, and Akhmad Wiyagus. The former Minister of Defense also appointed Benjamin Paulus Octavianus as the Deputy Minister of Health. This appointment fills the position of Deputy Minister of Health with two people, namely Dante Saksono Harbuwono and Benjamin Paulus. Wiyagus and Benjamin were appointed based on Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 32/M of 2025 concerning the Termination and Appointment of Deputy Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet for the 2024-2029 term. This addition brings the total number of deputy ministers in the Red and White Cabinet to 55, while the total number of ministers remains at 49.The State Secretary Minister, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that Prabowo added a Deputy Minister of Home Affairs to ensure smooth development in every region. This decision was made considering that Indonesia consists of 514 regencies and 38 provinces.”Therefore, the President felt the need to strengthen the Ministry of Home Affairs by appointing an additional Deputy Minister of Home Affairs,” said Prasetyo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.Meanwhile, Prasetyo stated that the addition of the Deputy Health Minister position was due to the significant and extensive tasks at the Ministry of Health. This addition also aims to address several issues at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).”This includes helping to ensure the resolution of several issues at the National Nutrition Agency; thus, the President decided to appoint and add one deputy minister at the Ministry of Health,” said Prasetyo.In addition to appointing deputy ministers, Prabowo established the Executive Committee for Accelerating Special Autonomy Development in Papua. Velix Wanggai chairs this committee, which has nine members.The nine individuals are John Wempi Wetipo, a former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs; Ignatius Yoko Triyono, a retired general who has served as the Commander of the Cenderawasih Military Regional Command; Juharson Estrella Sihasale, a film artist as well as a former Gerindra legislative candidate in Papua; and Paulus Waterpauw, a former police officer with the rank of police commissioner general who once served as the Papua Regional Police Chief.There are also Ribka Haluk, a Deputy Minister of Home Affairs; Ali Hamdan Bogra, a retired TNI officer who has served as the Kasuari Military Area Commander; John Gluba Gebze, who has served as the Regent of Merauke; Yanni, as the Chairperson of the Gerindra Regional Leadership Council in Papua; and Billy Mambrasar, who has served as a special millennial staff for Jokowi.The appointment of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua is stipulated in Presidential Decree Number 110/P of 2025.Velix Wanggai stated that the committee is tasked by the head of state to oversee eight major agendas outlined in the contextual Asta Cita of Papua. These tasks include political, economic, infrastructure, and governance development.He also mentioned that the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua has been assigned to manage various social and cultural aspects, ranging from sports and gender equality to the creative economy, all of which are aimed at developing Papua. “It will also serve as a coordination bridge between the central government and the six provinces in Papua,” said Velix.According to Velix, Prabowo pays great attention to directly and integratively managing development in Papua. Velix explained that the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua will ensure that all development programs in Papua run in synergy and bring benefits to the people.Firman Noor, a researcher from the Political Research Center at the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN), views the addition of members to the Red and White Cabinet as an acceleration of the government’s programs. This necessitates the addition of deputy ministers and new agencies to further these efforts. “The addition of deputy ministers covers strategic matters within the government’s aspirations. It reflects the government’s ambition for improvement in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Health,” he said when contacted on Thursday, October 9, 2025.However, Firman is concerned that the addition of new agencies may overlap with existing government organizational structures. This situation could potentially lead to inefficiency and ineffective work practices. “In practice, the addition of new agencies may not be very efficient,” he said.According to Firman, the government should empower existing institutions amid this economic crisis. The government can improve the effectiveness of existing institutions through continuous evaluation. “They should be made more effective through a continuous evolution that truly aims for targeted improvements,” he said.Firman said that Prabowo might have difficulty attending to all members of his cabinet. According to Firman, it is a well-known fact that Prabowo only works with a few people. Instead, he will entrust strategic programs to those around him. “So, there’s also a concern that his attention may not be fully devoted. Because Prabowo also delegates strategic matters to those around him,” said Firman.In such a situation, Firman stated that the bureaucracy lacks initiative. Consequently, the bureaucracy operates ineffectively.Firman is also concerned that the addition of bureaucracy will burden the budget. This addition will require additional budget for human resources and supporting infrastructure.Politician Researcher at BRIN, Wasisto Raharjo Jati, sees the addition of new officials as support for the ministers. He considers the issues of domestic governance and health to be very complex, hence requiring cross-sectoral synergies. However, he questions the presence of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua.This committee may intersect with the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, which is tasked with regional development. “Even though this committee is specific to Papua, it is necessary to have clear duties and functions to avoid overlapping,” said Wasisto when contacted on Thursday, October 9, 2025.He stated that the increase in officials also impacts the budget. This addition also affects policy coordination. The reason is that the new structure will lengthen bureaucratic affairs.The inauguration yesterday became the fourth inauguration and cabinet reshuffle by Prabowo in almost a year of serving.Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this articleEditor’s Choice: Prabowo Launches Committee to Accelerate Papua’s Special Autonomy DevelopmentClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Source: en.tempo.co
