While speaking to the press after inaugurating Indonesia Digital Testing House at the Telecommunication Device Testing Center (BBPPT) in Depok, West Java, he confirmed he agreed with Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who earlier advised Prabowo against bringing toxic people into his Cabinet.
"Yes, that is correct," Widodo responded briefly.
Asked about the identity of the person whom Pandjaitan referred to as "toxic," the President told the press to seek the answer from Pandjaitan.
"Ask it to the one who said it in the first place," he said.
Related news: President Jokowi refutes involvement in formation of next cabinet
The coordinating minister, while delivering the keynote speech at the Jakarta Futures Forum agenda on Friday (May 4, 2024), cautioned Prabowo against bringing any toxic people into his government as he believes that would be detrimental to the nation.
Pandjaitan said he had conveyed this message as one of the lessons he has learned after working in President Widodo's cabinet for a decade.
According to Pandjaitan, one of the issues in the government concerns regulations that are contrary to national interests, especially in the context of digitalization and integration of the governance system.
He expressed believes that digitalization can help overcome regulatory problems and increase efficiency and transparency in the government.
"I said to the President (Jokowi), 'Sir, if you do not dare to replace people who disagree with this (digitalization and integrated governance), we will not progress. Hence, we have to replace those who disagree with this idea,'" he recalled.
He then advised Prabowo to be more selective in choosing ministers for his Cabinet.
Related news: President-elect Prabowo urged not to bring "toxic people" in cabinet
Translator: Rangga P/Fathur R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
