JAKARTA - Indonesia's new President Prabowo Subianto will take his Cabinet members on a three-day retreat at a military academy nestled in a Javanese mountain range, where they will sleep in tents, an unusual start for a government in the South-east Asian country.

       Former special force commander Prabowo was sworn in as Indonesia’s eighth president on Oct 20, taking over from Mr Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to lead the world’s third-biggest democracy. He announced his Cabinet on the evening of Oct 20 and his ministers were to be inaugurated on Oct 21.

       First on the agenda will be the retreat this weekend at a military academy in Magelang, Central Java, surrounded by volcanoes about 500km east of Jakarta.

       The retreat is aimed at forming a bond between around 100 Cabinet ministers and their deputies, a diverse grouping of politicians, technocrats, former military officials and religious leaders, according to Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding.

       Mr Prabowo wants to make sure his Cabinet members understand his vision, Mr Abdul Kadir said.

       “So it will be easier for us to work together. (Prabowo) always emphasises the importance of solidity,” Mr Abdul Kadir said, noting that an anti-corruption lesson will be part of the material covered at the retreat.

       All the ministers will be expected to sleep in tents, he also said.

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       Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, 55, said the retreat will be held between Oct 25 and 27.

       Such an excursion is not new for Mr Prabowo and reflects his leadership style. His Gerindra political party has often organised similar events at Mr Prabowo’s spacious Hambalang estate south of Jakarta.

       Gerindra’s most recent retreat was held in September to prepare elected parliamentary members to be sworn in. Social media posts from the retreat show politicians posing for photographs wearing brown camouflage uniforms, maroon berets and combat boots.

       Most Gerindra retreats have consisted of briefings on state ideology and leadership, and outdoor activities such as jogging and light exercises, said 57-year-old Gerindra member Ferry Juliantono, who is Mr Prabowo’s Deputy Minister of Cooperatives. He said Mr Prabowo, 73, himself typically leads the retreats.

       Mr Prabowo’s Cabinet includes officials continuing on from the administration of predecessor Joko Widodo, such as highly regarded Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, 62, as well as retired Lieutenant-General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, 71, a friend of Mr Prabowo since their military days who is now Defence Minister. REUTERS