Trim the Fat

Rather than establish an economic committee, the President would do better to optimize his cabinet and other state bodies. Apart from the lack of urgency, its role could overlap with that of other institutions.

June 30, 2010

SIX presidents of this nation have had the same “hobby”—a fondness for establishing special extra-cabinet bodies such as councils, committees or task forces. When founding President Sukarno was in power, government-formed councils sprang up everywhere, such as the Textiles Council and the Handicrafts Council.

President Suharto did not want to be left out. The New Order leader established the Committee of Four, which was given a mandate to

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