Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is letting his ministers come up with new regulations as long as these rules can lead to a more effective government transition.

Jokowi gathered his ministers for the final cabinet meeting at the Indonesian new capital’s Garuda Palace. The meeting mainly zeroed in on the preparations for President-Elect Prabowo Subianto’s upcoming government. Jokowi urged his ministers to do their best to make sure that Prabowo can immediately get to work once he assumes power next month.

Former army general Prabowo has promised to carry on Jokowi’s existing policies with an addition of his signature free school lunch program. Jokowi did not specifically mention the free meal program at the broadcast part of the meeting. However, the ex-Jakarta governor wants his ministers to give their unwavering support for Prabowo’s flagship policies.

“All of us need to fully support the president-elect’s programs. Make sure that the government transition runs effectively,” Jokowi said.

“If new regulations are needed, if we must formulate [certain] policies, do so and finish them immediately. Especially [if those policies] are meant to support the president-elect’s flagship programs. So after the inauguration, the new government can immediately get to work and ‘run fast’,” Jokowi added.

But at the same time, the president does not want his government to go too crazy with the policymaking. Jokowi feared that extreme policies could disrupt the country’s stability, which could be detrimental to national growth and development.

“Please do not make extreme policies, especially ones that will affect the livelihoods of many people. [Do not come up with policies] that can potentially put people at a disadvantage and lead to unrest,” Jokowi said.

Prabowo Subianto and his vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka will take their oath of office on Oct. 20. Gibran is Jokowi’s eldest son. As expected, Jokowi ended his opening statement with an apology -- something that he has been doing a lot recently as the end of his 10-year rule nears.

“I would like to apologize to you all if there were things that you were unhappy with in our interactions over the past 10 years. And for things that might not be good enough. Once again, I apologize profusely,” Jokowi told his ministers.

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