Prabowo defends plan to expand government with ‘fat' Cabinet

JAKARTA Indonesia's Presidentelect Prabowo Subianto has defended his plan to expand government agencies, saying it is needed for a strong administration even if critics call it a "fat" Cabinet that will bloat the bureaucracy.

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Mr Prabowo, who will be sworn in on Oct 20, plans to add about 10 ministries and agencies, a move seen as a way to create senior jobs for politicians in his coalition.

"I want to create a united and strong government," he told an economic forum on Oct 9. "The coalition must be big, and some will say my Cabinet is fat." Foreign investors have been worried that Mr Prabowo may ease fiscal discipline in South-east Asia's largest economy. A senior aide has said Mr Prabowo will stick to the agreed 2025 spending levels and will adhere to existing budget rules.