Jokowi's Economic Team Comprises Star Players: PKS

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The economic team of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is reinforced with "star players," so that it would improve the nation's economic conditions, President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Sohibul Iman stated.

"Similar to a soccer team, the economic team has been filled with star players. Now, it will depend on the president, as the coach of the team, whether he is able to lead the players and mobilize them," Sohibul told reporters in response to the newly appointed cabinet ministers as announced by President Jokowi on Wednesday.

Hence, the PKS president has called on all sides to respect the decision of the head of state to reshuffle his cabinet. Sohibul said seeing the names of the new ministers, the reshuffle focuses on improving the nation's economy, which has, so far, been in the public spotlight.

President Jokowi announced, on Wednesday, his second round of cabinet reshuffle, which was positively welcomed by several quarters, including political leaders, economic analysts, and market players.

The appointment of Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a former finance minister and managing director of the World Bank, to the finance minister's post is being viewed as the best option to reinforce the economic team in the new cabinet line-up.

"We hope the new economic team will work well and deliver better performance than that of the previous one," Sohibul affirmed.

General Chairman of the National Democratic Party Surya Paloh believes that the second cabinet reshuffle, particularly the appointment of Sri Mulyani as the finance minister, will create a positive sentiment for the economy and the market.

"We know the market pins the greatest hopes on Sri Mulyani," Paloh remarked while attending the inauguration of the new ministers on Wednesday.

Paloh praised the Working Cabinet and expressed optimism after the second round of reshuffle.  
"The Working Cabinet will perform far better and effectively than the previous one," he remarked.

According to political observer Edi Indrizal of West Sumatra's Andalas University, the cabinet reshuffle is the president's effort to accelerate economic development. Seeing the new ministers, the economic team is stronger.

"Although the reshuffle is not inseparable from political consideration, the ministers' composition in the new cabinet line-up shows that President Jokowi is serious about improving the economic conditions as is reflected by the inclusion of Sri Mulyani," Indrizal said in Padang, West Sumatra, on Wednesday. (WDY)