Indonesian President Joko Widodo on 22 December announced a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, including a replacement for the health minister criticised for his perceived mishandling of the country's COVID-19 crisis.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: AFP)

Widodo said six ministers would be replaced, including in the portfolios of health, trade, tourism, fisheries, social affairs, and religious affairs. The newcomers will take office on 23 December.

Notably, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, a former head of Bank Mandiri and chief of Indonesia's economic recovery taskforce, would take over the health portfolio from Terawan Agus Putranto, who has faced public calls to resign over a coronavirus caseload that is among Asia's biggest.

The Indonesian President had hinted at the reshuffle in June after lamenting to his cabinet a lack of "sense of crisis" among his ministers, and inefficient government spending.

The reshuffle come weeks after the ministers of fisheries and social affairs were named as suspects in corruption cases by the nation's anti-graft body.

Source: VNA