Indonesia’s Jokowi taps ex-military men for defence and religious affairs in new cabinet line-up

The new cabinet has over three dozen members and features a mix of politicians and individuals from the private sector

Among them is the president’s main election rival Prabowo Subianto, fellow ex-general Fachrul Razi and long-standing finance chief Sri Mulyani

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo, front row fourth from left, and his deputy Ma'ruf Amin, fifth from left, with their new cabinet. Photo: AP

Published: 12:44pm, 23 Oct 2019Updated: 5:51pm, 6 Dec 2019

Indonesian leader Joko “Jokowi” Widodo introduced his new cabinet on Wednesday outside the presidential palace, tapping his election arch rival Prabowo Subianto as defence minister, another former general Fachrul Razi as religious affairs minister and moving the national police chief Tito Karnavian into the home affairs role.

He also kept ex-general Luhut Pandjaitan, his closest aide and point person for China affairs, as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

The new cabinet has over three dozen members, with only five of them women and features a mix of politicians from the coalition of parties backing Widodo and individuals from the private sector.

The new team, dressed in batik, perched on the steps of Merdeka Palace on Wednesday morning as Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, introduced them and described their main tasks.

Cabinet ministers perch on the steps of the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Jokowi posted a photo of the cabinet members sitting on the steps of the palace on Twitter with the message: "There are old faces, and new faces. All will work, and endeavour together to help Indonesia progress. My main message to them is: Don't be corrupt! Happy working."