REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon is said to have asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to reinforce his cabinet while discussing a second cabinet reshuffle.
"It is the President's prerogative to reshuffle his cabinet ministers. But we have to say that the President should have a strong cabinet, which is filled with competent personnel in their respective field and have no political baggage," Fadli said at the Parliament building on Thursday.
He made these remarks after meeting with President Jokowi at the State Palace, adding that if the cabinet is strong, it will be very helpful for the President to run his government and also debunk the impression that the President is working alone.
"When we spoke to him about the matter, the President only nodded. I only provided him with an input," the Deputy Chairman of DPR said.
Fadli, who is also the deputy chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, said he did not discuss certain ministers, who should be replaced, during the meeting.
He added that the meeting with the President discussed matters related to the government's performance and the targets that it will achieve.
"We did not discuss apolitical parties and individuals. We want the government's targets to be achieved. So, strong and professional personnel are needed," he noted.
He further stressed that as far as the national interest is concerned, there should be no such term as Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) or White-Red Coalition (KMP).
According to him, with regards to national interest, all must be united and there should be no political bulkheads.
"But I have to stress that Gerindra's position is outside the government," he added.