Jokowi Calls Another Meeting of Numerous Figures at State Palace

Jakarta (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called numerous figures for another meeting at the State Palace on Thursday, similar to that held on Wednesday. President Jokowi invited the former transitional team advisory board member Luhut Panjaitan; National Awakening Party politicians Marwan Jafar, Hanif Dhakiri, and Nasir; and Susi Air President Director Susi Pudjiastuti among several others to the Palace on Thursday. But when asked to comment after the meeting with the president, they refused to divulge any details regarding the cabinet lineup being arranged by the new head of state. "Nothing special. We only talked about aviation, tourism, and fisheries," Susi Pudjiastuti stated. Earlier, on Wednesday, the newly installed president also called other figures such as Pratikno, Komarudin Hidayat, former secretary general of the Ministry of Home Affairs Siti Nurbaya, and Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. But, Bambang brushed aside speculations that the meeting was related to his ministerial candidacy. "No, it was purely about the state budget," Bambang informed the media after meeting President Jokowi. Bambang emphasized that President Jokowi only wanted to keep abreast with the current financial situation and to discuss about the next state budget. As of now, it is yet unclear when President Jokowi will announce his cabinet lineup. (*)