By Dames Alexander Sinaga

JAKARTA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- It has been over a month since Prabowo Subianto assumed office as president of Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous country. The former army general announced that his administration, officially known as the "Red and White Cabinet," has introduced several policies aimed at improving citizens' welfare.

The Red and White Cabinet, comprising 48 ministers and five heads of ministerial-level agencies, features both new faces and experienced officials from the previous administration of Joko Widodo.

"It's been more than a month since we took over the administration of the country, and we have provided the people with important policies," Prabowo said during a recent plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Prabowo, who once chaired the Indonesian Farmers Association, highlighted the importance of supporting agricultural livelihoods. One of his administration's initial measures is debt relief for individuals and micro, small, and medium enterprises in the farming, fishing, and plantation sectors.

Other recent initiatives include a 6.5 percent increase in the minimum wage for 2025 and a 10 percent reduction in domestic airfares during the year-end holiday season, which have been well received by many.

According to Irwansyah, a political science lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Prabowo's administration has been working to address various national concerns while managing a broad political coalition. He noted that balancing competing priorities within the government could shape future policy directions.

Prabowo leads the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and is supported by major parties such as Golkar, the country's second-largest political party, and the National Mandate Party. The composition of the cabinet reflects efforts to accommodate diverse political interests while ensuring policy continuity and stability, said Irwansyah.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Prabowo and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo's eldest son, presented an eight-point development program called Asta Cita.

The program outlines goals such as strengthening Indonesia's national principles of Pancasila, democracy, and human rights; enhancing national defense and security; and promoting national independence through self-sufficiency in food, energy, water, the creative economy, the green economy, and the blue economy.

Irwansyah noted that Asta Cita builds on Widodo's decade-long development agenda, Nawa Cita, which was first introduced as a nine-point program during the 2014 presidential campaign. While Asta Cita is seen by some as a rebranding of Nawa Cita, both initiatives share a common focus on sustainable development and national resilience, though several goals from Nawa Cita remain unfulfilled.

The expert also identified several key challenges for Prabowo's administration. Addressing economic constraints and ensuring efficient budget management remain pressing concerns, he said, especially amid a dynamic global economic environment.

He highlighted that continued efforts to strengthen governance and public trust will be essential for effective policy implementation. "Clear communication of policy goals and transparent decision-making processes could enhance administrative performance," he said.

On the international front, he said, the administration is expected to navigate evolving geopolitical dynamics involving the world's major countries. Crafting a clear foreign policy strategy will likely help maintain Indonesia's stability and international standing.

Domestically, fostering social cohesion and managing diverse societal interests will be important as the government seeks to implement its policy agenda. "Promoting dialogue and engagement with various stakeholders could strengthen national unity and stability," he added. Enditem

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