President-elect Jokowi crowdsources his Cabinet

SINGAPORE — Indonesian president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s unusual call for public consultation in the selection of his Cabinet members could be an attempt to engage Indonesians and side-step pressure from coalition partners on ministerial appointments, say analysts. But they say the move could backfire and complicate decision-making for Mr Widodo if there is overwhelming public support for particular candidates.

On Thursday, the volunteer-based supporter group Jokowi Center published an online poll called “People’s Choice for an Alternative Cabinet” on a crowdsourcing webpage. The poll lists three candidates for each of the 34 ministerial seats and offers an option for respondents to propose another name.

The president-elect has reportedly backed the poll idea. “It’s just asking for inputs. There’s no problem with it, right?” he told reporters at the Jakarta City Hall on Thursday.

Analysts note that Mr Widodo’s move is typical of his “blusukan” style, of directly interacting with ordinary people. The organisers said the list was drawn up following intensive discussions with various groups. It is not clear when the poll result will be announced and how Mr Widodo intends to use it.

The list includes several big names. Popular economists such as National Economic Council member Aviliani, Gadjah Mada University academic Sri Adiningsih and energy expert Kurtubi have been touted as potential candidates to fill economic posts.

“In posting all these names in a public forum, Jokowi is effectively saying to the electorate, ‘Okay, these are people who could do the job, tell me now what the objections are, not later’,” said Mr Keith Loveard, a senior analyst with the Jakarta-based Concord Consulting who noted that such a move was probably unprecedented anywhere in the world.

“It’s a smart move and one that will engage the educated electorate in a useful manner. The only problem with it is that, if there is overwhelming public support for a candidate, the president-elect might feel forced to select that person,” he said.

However, National University of Singapore Associate Professor Bilveer Singh described the move as idealistic and unrealistic.

“This is not about selecting an American Idol but a national leader to run a ministry. I guess he will eventually discover that the gesture is good but impractical; just imagine 100 names are put forward and (if) he ignores all or at least 99 per cent; he may anger the public and various vested interests.”

Jakarta Governor Widodo won the closely-fought July 9 presidential election with 53 per cent of the vote and is expected to be sworn in in October.

Analysts note that his move to go public on potential Cabinet nominees could also be aimed at side-stepping pressure from his Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) party and coalition partners on ministerial appointments, with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri particularly keen to have a say in the matter.

“It signals a change in Indonesian politics. He needs the support of the people to combat the oligarchic power of the PDI-P members,” said Mr Adri Wanto, an associate research fellow in the Indonesia Programme at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, adding that Mr Widodo has made it clear that he preferred to appoint technocrats as ministers.

Political analyst Wimar Witoelar, who was a spokesman of ex-President Abdurrahman Wahid, said the president-elect is keen to satisfy a new generation of voters tired of corruption and transactional politics.

To be sure, some politicians from PDI-P and its three coalition partners — Nasdem, Hanura and the National Awakening Party — are among the 102 names listed in the poll.

Ms Puan Maharani, the daughter of Ms Sukarnoputri and leader of the PDI-P faction in Parliament, is listed as a possible candidate for Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.

Governor of the central bank, Bank Indonesia, Mr Agus Martowardojo is named as a potential finance minister, while armed forces chief General Moeldoko found his name among those in the running for defence minister.

In a press release yesterday, the Jokowi Center said the online poll had received “support and (a) high level of enthusiasm” from Indonesians.

The Cabinet assembled by Mr Widodo will help define his policies as the incoming leader targets an economic growth pace of at least 7 per cent which Indonesia has not seen since before the 1990s Asian financial crisis.

“It will be a balance between professionals and political pressures,” Mr Fauzi Ichsan, a finance and banking adviser to PDI-P. With agencies