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Kalla insists Puan got Cabinet job on merit
JP/Jerry AdigunaVice President Jusuf Kalla has rebuffed allegations that Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Puan Maharani was appointed as a coordinating minister solely to please her mother, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the partyâs chief patron
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JP/Jerry Adiguna
Vice President Jusuf Kalla has rebuffed allegations that Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Puan Maharani was appointed as a coordinating minister solely to please her mother, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the party's chief patron.
Kalla insisted that Puan was given the job of coordinating human development and culture minister because she was considered to be adept at managing bureaucracy.
'[The Cabinet] needs a coordinating minister and Puan is considered appropriate for the role,' Kalla told reporters at the Vice Presidential Office on Monday.
The week taken by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Kalla to form their Cabinet was seen as evidence of a struggle between the pair and their supporting political parties, as well as business lobbyists, to place their favored candidates. The PDI-P, the leader of Jokowi's coalition, has secured five ministerial posts, including Puan's coordinating position.
Kalla said that although Puan has never worked in bureaucracy, she understood how an administration works, having been a PDI-P lawmaker for the last five years.
'No one is born with skill and knowledge. Everything has a beginning, and Puan is already on the right track,' said Kalla.
Megawati embraced his daughter Puan after the new Cabinet's inauguration at the State Palace on Monday.
