(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto will likely tap several incumbents as he finalizes his cabinet ahead of his inauguration later this week.
More than a dozen people who are set to be candidates for ministerial posts were called to Prabowo’s residence on Monday afternoon. All clad in Indonesian traditional batik attire, the attendees said the incoming president sought their help with his government but most declined to tell reporters what specific cabinet posts they were offered.
Many of those sighted at the gathering were incumbents such as Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Minister of Agrarian Affairs Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. That’s in line with Prabowo’s pronouncement last week that he would reappoint “many” of the ministers serving in President Joko Widodo’s cabinet as long as they were performing well.
Tito Karnavian, the current minister of home affairs, said that Prabowo asked him to help with the next government, including ensuring that inflation control efforts in the regions are sustained. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said he discussed how to better consolidate national data for social aid.
Earlier on Monday, Reuters reported that the incoming president is considering to reappoint Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati or offer her the post of coordinating minister for economic affairs. She was not sighted at Prabowo’s residence as of 5:00 p.m. local time.
The likelihood that Indonesia’s next cabinet will feature old hands — especially Indrawati, who has been a pivotal figure in managing Southeast Asia’s largest economy — has soothed investor concerns of any policy uncertainty during the leadership change on Oct. 20.
Indonesian assets were among the region’s best performers on Monday. The rupiah gained 0.1% to close at 15,560 per dollar, its strongest against the greenback in more than a week. The benchmark stock index was up 0.5% to 7,559.
New Ministries
One key difference in Prabowo’s cabinet though will be its size, with the next president planning to create more ministries. The move is aimed at supporting his new programs, though critics have said it’s also meant to distribute more seats among his fat coalition.
Former Secretary of State Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who was at Prabowo’s residence on Monday, said that the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs will be split into two. One of them would be the Coordinating Ministry for Law and Human Rights, which he said he was asked to lead.
Abdul Mu’ti, secretary general of Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, also confirmed he will be appointed as the new minister for primary and secondary education.
Others who attended the meeting were current Deputy Agrarian Affairs Minister Raja Juli Antoni, former vice-presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar, human rights activist Natalius Pigai and Nusron Wahid, who was a part of Prabowo’s presidential campaign team.
According to some people who met Prabowo on Monday, ministerial candidates were previously asked to sign a letter of intent and integrity pact stating that they are ready to be part of the cabinet and and support the administration.
--With assistance from Prima Wirayani.
(Updates throughout with more sightings in Prabowo’s residence)
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