The Red-White Cabinet led by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is approaching its 100th day in office. Amid this milestone, economists and analysts have highlighted areas for improvement to achieve the administration’s ambitious goals.
Wijayanto Samirin, an economist from Paramadina University, shared critical observations on the government’s performance.
“There are six tendencies in Prabowo’s administration that need to be addressed if they aim to realize their Asta Cita (8 Aspritations). The sooner these issues are corrected, the better,” said Wijayanto during a public discussion titled Critical Evaluation of Prabowo’s 100-Day Economic Performance on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, reported Kompas.com.
Six Key Issues in Prabowo-Gibran’s Administration
1. Weak Interagency Coordination
In the first 100 days, the Kabinet Merah Putih has often struggled with a lack of solid interagency coordination. Discrepancies in narratives between ministers, deputy ministers, and across ministries, as well as between central and regional governments, have created significant challenges.
2. Ineffective Public Communication
The administration has been criticized for poor public communication and making excessive promises. While such promises may inspire optimism among the public, failure to deliver on them could lead to widespread disappointment.
3. Shallow Policy Implementation
The government’s policies have been described as incremental and superficial rather than systematic and comprehensive. For instance, while initiatives for self-sufficiency in rice, sugar, and corn have been introduced through import restrictions, there has been little follow-up on actionable steps to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency.
4. Short-Term Populist Programs
Many government programs have been characterized as populist with only short-term impacts. A notable example is President Prabowo’s sudden announcement of a 6.5% increase in the national minimum wage for 2025. “The process was abrupt—initially 5%, then suddenly increased to 6.5%. When asked about the calculation, there was no clear explanation,” said Wijayanto.
5. Lack of Technocratic Basis
Wijayanto also criticized the government for lacking a strong technocratic foundation. Many policies are perceived to be heavily influenced by politics rather than robust data and analysis. “With a strong technocratic basis, discussions are more constructive, inputs are measurable, and the impact is clear. Without it, meaningful improvements are challenging,” he explained.
6. Gap Between Promises and Execution
Lastly, Wijayanto pointed out a significant gap between the government’s grand promises and their actual implementation. For example, while there have been bold commitments to eradicate corruption, tangible progress in terms of technical execution and integrity remains limited.
Performance Report: 5 Ministers with Poor Ratings
According to metrotvnews.com, the Center for Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has published a performance report evaluating the first 100 days of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. Based on CELIOS’s findings, five ministers in the Kabinet Merah Putih are deemed underperforming and are recommended for a reshuffle.
The ministers with the poorest ratings are:
- Natalius Pigai (Minister of Human Rights), -113 points, indicating significant public dissatisfaction with his policies in human rights due to controversies and lack of breakthroughs.
- Budi Arie Setiadi (Minister of Cooperatives), -61
- Bahlil Lahadalia (Minister of Investment), -41
- Raja Juli Antoni (Minister of Forestry), -36
- Yandri Susanto (Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions), -28
Ministers Recommended for Reshuffle
CELIOS highlighted the ministers most frequently suggested for a reshuffle, including:
- Raja Juli Antoni: 56 points
- Budi Arie: 48 points
- Bahlil Lahadalia: 46 points
- Natalius Pigai: 41 points
- Yandri Susanto: 26 points
Additionally, several ministers have yet to demonstrate notable achievements in their roles during the first 100 days. These include:
- Raja Juli Antoni: 9.47 points
- Natalius Pigai: 8.42 points
- Arifatul Choiri Fauzi (Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection): 8.42 points
- Budiman Sudjatmiko (Head of Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency): 8.42 points
- Budi Arie: 8.42 points
Methodology of Evaluation
The 100-day performance evaluation by CELIOS employed an expert judgment survey involving 95 journalists from 44 media outlets across Indonesia, covering economics, social and political issues, law and human rights, as well as energy and the environment.
Panelists assessed ministerial performance based on predetermined criteria, ensuring diverse perspectives. The evaluation also ranked the top three ministers based on achievements, policy alignment with public needs, leadership quality, and budget management. Points for top-performing ministers were adjusted against votes for the poorest-performing ones to ensure consistent and reliable results.
Source: Kompas.com, metrotvnews.com
Photo Credit: Antara Foto/Hafidz Mubarak A/Foc
