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Ministry merger feared to jeopardize focus on science, research
Researchers say the Indonesian government has been prioritizing investment over science and research by merging the Research and Technology Ministry with the Education and Culture Ministry.
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Employees walk into the Research and Technology Ministry's building in Jakarta on April 11. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
T
he Joko “Jokowi” Widodo administration’s decision to dissolve the Research and Technology Ministry to make way for the establishment a new ministry focusing on investment has sparked concerns about the future state of science and innovation in the country.
The government has proposed that the ministry be merged with the Education and Culture Ministry and that the authority to oversee research be bestowed on the National Research Agency (BRIN), which will become an independent state agency.
On April 8, President Jokowi sent a letter to the House of Representatives, seeking the legislative body’s consideration on his plan to merge the two ministries and to create a new ministry tasked with investment affairs.
The 2008 State Ministries Law limits the number of ministries in the Cabinet at 34, leaving the President with no choice but to replace an existing ministry with a new one.
Read also: Indonesia prepares new agency to bolster research and innovation
The House’s Steering Committee (Bamus) discussed the President’s plan on the same day and brought it to the House plenary meeting on Friday, where all nine political parties agreed to endorse the plan.
Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad from Gerindra Party said the new ministry on investment was expected to lure investment into the country and create more job opportunities. However, he did not specify the task for the merged ministries on education, cultural affairs and research.
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