Eliminating Sectoral Ego: Zulhas Acts as Conductor for Food Security in Prabowo Era

The issue of sectoral ego between ministries, which frequently hampers food policy, is being officially addressed in the era of President Prabowo Subianto. The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), is acting as a conductor to harmonise all technical ministries, ensuring they move in unison towards the target of food self-sufficiency.

Zulhas revealed that successful inter-ministerial coordination is the primary key to executing various strategic programmes in the food sector.

“The role of the Coordinating Minister for Food is to oversee and ensure the success of these programmes. That is my duty. Therefore, there have been many bottlenecks between regional and central governments, or between ministries. For example, we are studying the problems to understand how we can achieve rapid food self-sufficiency,” Zulhas told detikcom during a recent event.

Zulhas noted that sectoral ego in the past often caused policies between ministries to become disconnected. Furthermore, coordination between relevant ministers frequently reached a deadlock.

“The same applies to environmental management, such as waste, which is complicated. There were times when Mr Luhut could not meet with the Minister of Environment or the Minister of Forestry. Even the Minister of Defence, Mr Prabowo, faced difficulties; we have now resolved those issues,” said Zulhas.

Through fluid coordination and routine communication, various overlapping regulatory issues can be resolved at the level of the Coordinating Ministry for Food without burdening the President.

“There is sectoral ego and there are conflicting interests between central and regional governments. We can resolve these effectively. Alhamdulillah, because we are sincere and earnest, and because this is a shared interest—the interest of Indonesia and the Red and White flag—this can succeed,” he added.

Additionally, Zulhas emphasised that if inter-ministerial issues become extremely difficult to resolve and no middle ground can be found, he will request the President to lead the meeting directly.

“Otherwise, I ask Mr Prabowo to chair the meeting. They usually listen to me. But if it becomes too heavy, I ask the President,” Zullar added.

This solid synergy is further strengthened by supporting technical ministries, such as the Ministry of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions. The Minister of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions, Yandri Susanto, emphasised that cross-sector coordination is now highly active in building food security from the village level.

“So now we are increasing efforts; for instance, in areas with water scarcity, we are providing many clean water boreholes. We are providing assistance to Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), working on roads, and so on. This is being carried out simultaneously,” concluded Yandri.