Indonesian Muslim Congress Participants Praise Agriculture Minister, Urge More Like Him for President Prabowo

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman garnered significant appreciation from participants at the Congress of Indonesian Muslim Ummah VIII in Jakarta for his efforts in reforming the food sector. One attendee suggested that President Prabowo Subianto would benefit from having more ministers with Sulaiman's capabilities to tackle national challenges effectively.

During a dialogue session, a participant directly addressed Minister Amran, stating, "You are not supported by other interests. Mr. Prabowo, if he needs at least three like you, it's done. How is the coordination so that potential people like you are not just you alone?" This highlights a perceived need for more proactive and effective leadership within the government.

Minister Amran, in response, emphasized that the achievements in food self-sufficiency were not the result of individual effort but a collaborative success involving multiple ministries, the TNI, Polri, regional governments, academics, and religious leaders, including the MUI. He stressed the importance of coordination and the role of the MUI in providing guidance.

The discussion also delved into palm oil governance, with participants voicing concerns about farmers' access to processing facilities. They proposed the establishment of more palm oil processing plants in production centers to ensure that value-added benefits are shared more broadly and not solely captured by large corporations. Minister Amran acknowledged these concerns and stated that the government is working to improve palm oil governance, including addressing illegal activities and ensuring natural resources benefit the state and its people. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to combat irregularities in cooking oil distribution, such as price manipulation and reduced packaging contents.