Asean Business logo
SPONSORED BYUOB logo
ASEAN BUSINESS

Prabowo replaces controversial minister in first reshuffle; critics say the move fails to fix key issues

The Indonesian president’s first reshuffle comes much sooner than that of his predecessor Joko Widodo, who waited nearly a year

 Elisa Valenta
Published Wed, Feb 19, 2025 · 07:58 PM
    • President Prabowo Subianto in Bogor, West Java, on Feb 15. A number of ministers in his fledgling Cabinet have courted controversy through their policies.
    • President Prabowo Subianto in Bogor, West Java, on Feb 15. A number of ministers in his fledgling Cabinet have courted controversy through their policies. PHOTO: AFP

    [JAKARTA] Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, seeking to quiet the internal discord within his administration, unexpectedly dismissed a controversial minister on Wednesday (Feb 19).

    Satryo Brodjonegoro was replaced the same day by Brian Yuliarto as Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

    Observers told The Business Times that they viewed this shake-up as a distraction, and that it failed to tackle the more pressing issues of controversial public policies that have recently stirred public debate.

    This was the 73-year-old president’s first Cabinet reshuffle, just after 100 days in office. It comes much sooner than the first portfolio changes made by his predecessor Joko Widodo, who waited nearly a year after his first inauguration in 2014 to make changes.

    Brodjonegoro’s dismissal follows protests from ministry employees, who raised concerns about his abuse of power and his temperamental attitude; he also allegedly assaulted an employee and unilaterally fired a member of his staff.

    Prabowo’s decision seems to be a bold step, coming on the heels of his stern warning earlier this month that ministers and their teams who fail to fulfil their responsibilities and to uphold good governance within the first 100 days would face consequences.

    A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

    Friday, 8.30 am

    Asean Business

    Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies.

    Adi Prayitno, a political scientist at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta, said: “This reshuffle is an important moment, signalling that if other ministers fail to perform, they too could be replaced.”

    While some view the reshuffle as a clear signal of Prabowo’s zero tolerance for incompetence, others argue that it misses the mark for not addressing the public’s growing concerns over pressing social and economic issues.

    Achmad Hidayat, a public-policy expert and lecturer at UPN Veteran Jakarta, argued that while ministers responsible for education, research and technology play a key role in long-term development, their policies do not have the immediate impact of those in economic or social portfolios.

    He said that as Indonesians grapple with economic challenges, Prabowo’s Cabinet is facing mounting public scrutiny and a growing tide of discontent over its economic policies.

    “Let’s not make ministerial changes just about replacing those with management or leadership issues within their institutions. A minister’s replacement should bring tangible improvements to the people, not simply serve as a Cabinet gimmick,” he said.

    “If reshuffling is done only to reduce internal noise, it loses its significance for the public.”

    Since their appointments last year, some members of Prabowo’s Cabinet have been dogged by controversy for their policies and other issues. The ratings of some of his ministers have dropped for this reason, although Prabowo himself enjoyed public approval – his rating came in at 80 per cent – in his first 100 days.

    The local media recently spotlighted several ministers caught in controversy, including Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi.

    In December, he was questioned by police in an ongoing investigation into an alleged online gambling scandal tied to the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation. He had previously headed the ministry during Widodo’s administration.

    In another recent controversy, Prabowo quickly intervened to reverse a decision by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who had introduced a regulation that restricted the sale of subsidised cooking gas canisters to “authorised distributors”.

    The decision triggered public backlash, as many low income households found it difficult to access the canisters, which are usually sold at small stalls or convenience stores.

    Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.