The former Gerindra Party legislator realized that the public, with little knowledge about him and his track record in diplomacy, were still scrutinizing him. At the same time, observers and foreign affairs experts openly expressed their skepticism of Prabowo’s "ideological son".

However, the public should allow Sugiono to prove that the President made the right decision in appointing him despite his lack of experience in foreign affairs.

At the same time, Sugiono should learn to win the public's confidence at home and to carry out quick and convincing damage-control steps after Prabowo and Xi’s joint statement on the Natuna Sea triggered confusion from Indonesia’s neighbors and other friendly countries.

Two days before he met with the House members, Sugiono also addressed the annual diplomacy festival of the Foreign Policy Conference on Indonesia (FPCI) in a packed auditorium in South Jakarta.  The minister spoke fluent English and said he would faithfully execute the President's policies. Some might be disappointed because he did not disclose substantial plans in his speech.

Internally, at the Foreign Ministry, civil servants seemed disappointed with the President's choice for their ministry’s leader after having been led by three consecutive career diplomats since 2001.

People at the ministry should remember that Prabowo has the full prerogative to determine the direction of Indonesia's foreign diplomacy in the next five years.

They must be able to readjust themselves to the new government, and the fact that they no longer have a monopoly on policymaking, and the role of stakeholders will significantly increase.

However, the President should also refrain from excessive intervention in the ministry’s internal organizations. Many worry that he will appoint more active or retired military and police generals to the ministry.

In his first hearing with his former House colleagues, Sugiono not only tried to respond to the legislators, but also introduced his short-term plan, including reviving the ministry's economic affairs directorate general. It was dissolved more than two decades ago because its highly prominent role during President Soeharto's rule often triggered internal and external conflicts.

Then-foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda abolished the office, and other directorate generals shared the role. It is prudent to reactivate the economic affairs office.

Currently, the ministry has six directorate generals. They are the offices of Asia-Pacific and Africa, America and Europe, ASEAN cooperation, multilateralism, law and international agreements, information and public diplomacy.

Former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo once considered merging the Trade Ministry's foreign trade directorate general with the Foreign Ministry but gave up after strong resistance from trade ministry officials.

During Monday's session, Sugiono also introduced two of his three deputies, and described their jobs and responsibilities. Deputy Minister Anis Matta, a politician, will focus on diplomacy with Islamic nations. Arrmanatha Nasir, who served as Indonesia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, will mainly deal with the ministry's internal matters and multilateral affairs. Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno was absent because he was on an official European mission. Arif will lead the ministry's bilateral cooperation and international agreement negotiations.

Until now, Minister Sugiono still prefers to have a low public profile. But he should be active in public appearances soon, outlining his short- and medium-term plans as people are growing impatient with his slow moves.

The minister should be able to prove that the public is wrong to have little confidence in him and that he will be able to fulfill the mission.