JAKARTA - University of Indonesia (UI) economist Faisal Basri has slammed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s policy of appointing Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto at the helm of the government’s food estate project in Kapuas and Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan.
According to Mr Basri, the project should be commanded by someone from the Ministry of Agriculture or an expert in agriculture.
“[A similar policy] failed in Suharto’s administration, and it was also the case in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s. Now [Mr Widodo] wants to implement the same pattern with the Defence Minister at the helm, which is not right,” Mr Basri said at the Secret at Newsroom discussion held by CNN Indonesia, Thursday (13/8).
With the appointment of the Defence Minister to lead the food estate project, Mr Basri added, the need for an Agriculture Minister needs to be questioned.
“[Mr Widodo] said a country’s defence is not only about its military equipment, but also agriculture. Why not mention the need for financial defence with [Prabowo] as Finance Minister? Why not appoint him as a prime minister? It’s all political,” Mr Basri said. (MS)