Jakarta. Golkar member and lawmaker Meutya Hafid denied Tuesday that she had talked about the upcoming cabinet in her recent meeting with President-Elect Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo summoned several politicians to his residence in Bogor’s Hambalang last week. Meutya was among the high-profile guests, sparking speculations that the journalist-turned-politician could be one of Prabowo’s future ministers. Prabowo also invited retired lieutenant general and Defense Ministry’s senior official Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

As chair to the House’s Commission I, Meutya is in charge of defense and foreign affairs, among other things. However, Meutya denied that Prabowo had offered her a ministerial post during the meeting.

“There are no such talks [of me being a minister]. I’m also not involved in the cabinet makeup discussions. That is [Prabowo’s] prerogative as president [to appoint his ministers]. Let’s not speculate things,” Meutya told the press at the House building in Jakarta.

Meutya said she met with Prabowo in her capacity as 2019-2024 Commission I’s head lawmaker. She said that the commission had partnered with Prabowo, who still serves as the defense minister under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“He [Prabowo] is both the president-elect and a partner to the Commission I. Especially since we have just finalized five laws with him. So we met regarding the Commission I’s tasks,” Meutya said.

Prabowo’s spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said that Prabowo already had some individuals in his mind that he would consider appointing as ministers.  

According to Dahnil, Prabowo has also set three criteria for his future ministers, among others, the person has to be someone with integrity. The second criteria will be their skills as Prabowo wishes to establish a professional cabinet comprising experts in their fields. Last but not least is their loyalty.

“Mr. Prabowo will give a chance to anyone who wishes to contribute to the government as long as they meet these criteria,” Dahnil said not long ago.

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