President Prabowo Subianto once again expanded his cabinet lineup, appointing two new deputy ministers on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, a move seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the government’s coordination and policy execution.
At a ceremony held at the State Palace in Jakarta, Prabowo inaugurated Ahmad Wiyagus as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Benjamin Paulus Octavianus as Deputy Minister of Health.
The appointments were formalized under Presidential Decree No. 32/M of 2025 on the Dismissal and Appointment of Deputy Ministers of the “Red-White Cabinet” for the 2024–2029 term.
With Wiyagus’s appointment, the number of deputy home ministers has now risen to three, joining Bima Arya Sugiartoand Ribka Haluk. A retired three-star police general, Ahmad Wiyagus last served as the Head of the National Police’s Security Intelligence Agency (Baintelkam) and previously held key leadership roles, including West Java Police Chief.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Paulus Octavianus, a pulmonologistand senior figure within the Gerindra Party, becomes the second deputy health minister, serving alongside Dante Saksono Harbuwono. His appointment is viewed as both a political and professional reinforcement to support Indonesia’s ongoing healthcare reforms and disease prevention programs.
The expansion reflects the administration’s growing emphasis on sectoral coordination and regional development. Notably, Ribka Haluk, who continues to serve as deputy home minister, was also sworn in on the same day as a member of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua’s Special Autonomy Development, a newly established body tasked with overseeing the implementation of Papua’s autonomy programs.
Speaking prior to her inauguration, Ribka said the president had requested her participation in the committee, emphasizing that her new role aligns with her responsibilities at the Home Affairs Ministry.
“This is a complementary task it goes hand-in-hand with my current work,” she told reporters.
The dual roles and increased number of deputy ministers highlight Prabowo’s strategy of consolidating expertise and political representation within key ministries as the administration enters its second year.
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