Indonesian Public Weighs in on President Jokowi Cabinet Reshuffle

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian public is starting to have their say on the government’s checkered record in handling Indonesia’s Covid-19 crisis, after President Joko Widodo threatened to reshuffle his cabinet in mid-June.

Indonesia Public Opinion survey body director Dedi Kurnia Syah said that the public is receptive to the prospect of a cabinet change.

In an online discussion on Saturday, July 4, he said “72.9 percent of our respondents viewed reshuffling President Jokowi’s cabinet as necessary.” 

“This number is far more than the 22.4 percent [of respondents] who disagree and another 4.7 percent who abstained.”

In the spotlight

While Dedi noted that the ministers highlighted in the poll included holdovers from Jokowi’s first term, most are actually new faces in the cabinet.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly topped the list of cabinet members least favored by survey respondents, with 64.1 percent of them calling for his removal in the reshuffle, Dedi said.

Also read: Covid-19: Jokowi Displeasure at Non-Performing Ministers May Lead to Cabinet Reshuffle

“Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto is second, with 52.4 percent of respondents calling for his removal, while Labor Mininster Ida Fauziah is third with 47.5 percent urging her to be reshuffled.”

Aside from Terawan, other newcomers in the survey include high profile faces like State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir (18.4 percent) and Culture and Education Minister Nadiem Makarim (13 percent).

Dedi added that Indonesia Public Opinion surveyed 1,350 respondents in 30 provinces through a well-being purposive sampling through online or phone interviews. The survey’s credibility stands at 97 percent with a 3.54 percent margin of error.

In the clear

But Hendri Satrio Coffeehouse Survey Body predicted that Erick will keep his job, along with ministers like Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

"Prabowo is doing a good job [as Defense Minister] as he has made a difference in the defense ministry," said Hendri. "Likewise, Erick has done so [as state-owned enterprises minister.]"

Also read: The Covid-19 Crisis and Its Domino Effect on Indonesia

President Jokowi first hinted at the cabinet reshuffle during a plenary cabinet meeting on 18 June 18. The head of state expressed his displeasure over his ministers' lack of urgency in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

"We have to take extraordinary steps, whether it be political or policy steps,” the President said at the meeting. “I will take those extraordinary measures for [Indonesia’s] 267 million people, for the country." He also indicated other unspecified options. 

(Writer: Sania Mashabi, Deti Mega Purnamasari | Editors : Diamanty Meiliana, Fabian Januarius Kuwado)

Sources:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/04/18432841/survei-ipo-729-persen-responden-anggap-perlu-ada-reshuffle-di-kabinet-jokowi. 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/04/19142421/survei-641-persen-responden-nilai-yasonna-paling-layak-di-reshuffle-terawan?page=all#page2. 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/05/10523541/ini-menteri-yang-tak-kena-reshuffle-menurut-prediksi-pengamat?page=all#page2.