Prabowo's Cabinet picks caught up in controversy

Some analysts say missteps down to inexperience; others point to growing pains

- Hariz Baharudin

JAKARTA Barely 50 days into his presidency, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration is already grappling with gaffes involving high-profile appointees, which some say cast an early shadow on his governance.

Observers, however, remain divided on whether these incidents have far-reaching implications.

Some predict that such missteps from Indonesia's fledgling government will increase due to the administration's inexperience in managing public expectations, while others believe these are inevitable growing pains for any new set of leaders.

On Dec 6, Presidential Special Envoy for Religious Harmony and Religious Facility Development Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman made headlines when he resigned from his position, following public outrage after he mocked an iced tea seller.

During a public prayer event in Central Java on Nov 20, Mr Miftah, or Gus Miftah as he is known to his followers, ridiculed a man who was selling tea in the crowd, telling him to sell his wares in another area of the outdoor venue and calling him "goblok", which means "stupid".

The incident went viral on social media and internationally in the weeks before Mr Miftah's resignation. Netizens slammed his remarks, which are seen as demeaning to those trying to earn a living in the country.