Indonesian President Joko Widodo vowed to ramp up his faltering campaign against corruption, an impediment to boosting Southeast
\nAsia\u2019s largest economy.<\/p>\n
Widodo, 54, who on Wednesday revamped his cabinet, said he wants to strengthen government institutions to better tackle wealth
\ninequality and weak law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government acknowledges there are still many problems in our path,\u201d Widodo, better known as Jokowi, said in the first part
\nof an annual pre-Independence Day address on Friday. \u201cThe government will work hard to wage war against them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first Indonesian leader to hail from outside the country\u2019s elite, Jokowi has largely failed to live up to expectations of
\nbetter governance and faster development. He took office in October promising to spend more on long neglected infrastructure,
\nattract investment and reboot an economy growing at its slowest pace in more than five years.<\/p>\n
The anti-corruption commission has been embroiled in a dispute with the police, hampering efforts to curb rampant graft and
\nhurting his popularity.<\/p>\n
Widodo\u2019s cabinet shuffle saw two respected technocrats named to top economic positions in a bid to speed up reforms and secure
\nstronger political backing for his leadership.<\/p>\n
New trade minister Tom Lembong signaled he was ready to push back against protectionist policies, a contrast to the approach of
\nhis predecessor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory over the last 100 years all around the world proves clearly that protectionist policies always backfire,\u201d Lembong told
\nBloomberg Television in his first interview. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough situation, balancing domestic constituencies versus international
\nrelations and commitments,\u201d but policy makers have to \u201cfight these protectionist instincts,\u201d he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/widodo-vows-stronger-government-to-tame-indonesia-corruption",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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