Health Minister Says He Was Encouraged by Prabowo to Enter WHO Director-General Candidacy

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has acknowledged that he was encouraged by President Prabowo Subianto to stand as a candidate for director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Budi, he is ready to accept any assignment from the President and to carry it out as well as possible.

“It is a mandate from the President. So of course I will work for the President; whatever assignment he gives, we will carry it out as well as possible,” Budi said after a meeting at the parliamentary complex on Thursday (27/8).

He said that, as a great nation, Prabowo noted that Indonesia has never had a representative in a major world organisation on a par with the UN. Therefore, Budi said, seeing the opportunity, Prabowo wanted him to stand.

“So when he saw there was an opportunity, I was assigned there,” he said.

In addition, Budi said many countries have long wanted reform in world organisations, including the WHO. And Indonesia, according to him, is among those encouraged to contest.

“He sees Indonesia, perhaps under the leadership of President Prabowo, as having that potential,” he said.

Budi said he would resign as health minister if elected. However, the election will only be held next May.

“Yes, if elected — though it is not certain I will be elected, because 194 member states will vote in May,” he said.

Citing the official WHO website on Tuesday (25/8), BGS will compete with three other prospective candidates put forward by their respective countries.

The three names are Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, proposed by Qatar; Hanan Balkhy, proposed by Saudi Arabia; and Hans Henri P. Kluge, proposed by Belgium.