Yet despite his fondness for expanding the bureaucracy and creating new ministries and agencies early in his administration, Prabowo’s trust seems to rest on a surprisingly small circle. When it comes to carrying out his “big dreams”, he keeps turning to the same familiar faces.

Take Danantara, the newly established state asset fund and the centerpiece of Prabowo’s vision to better manage Indonesia’s wealth. In October last year, he appointed former Financial Services Authority (OJK) chief Muliaman Hadad and former state-owned ship builder PT PAL Indonesia CEO Kaharuddin Djenod to lead it.

But when the fund was officially launched in February, both were abruptly replaced by Rosan Roeslani, who simultaneously serves as investment minister and head of the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM). His chief operating officer, Dony Oskaria, also wears two hats, having been appointed the deputy state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister.

When the government and House of Representatives agreed in late September to downgrade the SOEs ministry into an agency and then-SOEs minister Erick Thohir was moved to lead the Youth and Sports Ministry, many expected a new figure to step in. Instead, Prabowo doubled down, appointing Dony again, this time as the permanent head of the SOEs Regulatory Agency (BP BUMN).

And just recently, the President replaced National Food Agency (Bapanas) chief Arief Prasetyo Adi with, yet again, another cabinet member: Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

It raises an uncomfortable question: Does Indonesia need more ministries, councils and agencies, or just fewer people doing too many things?