JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated on Thursday (Oct. 23) that he and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo are still selecting the ministerial candidates following recent inputs from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Anti-Money Laundering Agency (PPATK).

Jokowi, meanwhile, has received several guests speculated as possible ministers at the State Palace until this afternoon. They are, among others, Golkar Party’s and Jokowi’s campaign team senior adviser Luhut Pandjaitan, Susi Air CEO Susi Pudjiastuti, PPATK Chief M. Yusuf, Marwan Jafar, and Hanif Dhakiri.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jokowi has also received several guests, among others, former Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Hendropriyono, former Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) Ryamizard Ryacudu, former Coordinating Minister for Economy and Trans Corp Boss Chairul Tanjung, Bank
Indonesia’s Senior Deputy Governor Mirza Adityaswara, Nasdem Party’s Executive Leader Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Hanura Party’s Executive Leader Yuddy Chrisnandi.

President Jokowi has received harsh criticism upon his supposed failure to announce the new cabinet last night. The President’s close aide Hasto Kristiyanto said the President is still waiting consideration from the House of Representatives (DPR) over nomenclature changes of the new cabinet.

Hasto added the President has 14 days in maximum since his inauguration day to announce the new cabinet accordance to the State Ministerial Law No. 39/2008. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)