Anticipation heightens as Cabinet reshuffle nears<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid had a busy afternoon
\non Saturday as the gates of Merdeka Palace resembled revolving
\ndoors with a flurry of ministers and political figures scurrying
\nin and out.<\/p>\n
The spate of activity reflected the general mood of many
\nanxiously anticipating the lineup of the Cabinet, which is
\nexpected to be announced within the next seven days.<\/p>\n
Among the guests at the official presidential residence were
\nleaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB), banker Rudy Ramli
\nand Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. (ret.) Surjadi Soedirdja.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and
\nIndustry Kwik Kian Gie also had lunch with the President at Bina
\nGraha presidential office along with a senior journalist.<\/p>\n
Kwik, who tendered his resignation from the Cabinet on Aug.
\n10, said he briefed Abdurrahman on the progress of his work in
\nthe last 10 months.<\/p>\n
\"I (also) told the President that whatever he decides about
\nme, I will accept it,\" Kwik said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"However, about a position in the Cabinet, I will see its
\ncomposition first. I have learned from past experience.\"<\/p>\n
Tempo news weekly general manager Fikri Jufri accompanied Kwik
\nduring the luncheon. According to Kwik, Fikri was there as a
\nfriend of Abdurrahman and himself.<\/p>\n
Kwik claimed the President accepted his explanation regarding
\nthe country's economic progress, including his negotiations with
\ninternational donors like the International Monetary Fund.<\/p>\n
Kwik added that he would also brief the Cabinet in its last
\nmeeting on Wednesday, and the weekly economic meeting on Monday
\nabout the government's strategy in the past and anticipating the
\nforthcoming year.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the Cabinet shake-up, Kwik, a deputy chairman of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic of Struggle party, said the President
\nshould not only pick professional and capable candidates for his
\neconomic team but also people who have strong support from a
\npolitical party.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers should come from the political parties, while
\nthe technocrats who don't join a political party, let them just
\nhold a director-general level position,\" Kwik said.<\/p>\n
Kwik and Indonesian ambassador to the U.S., Dorodjatun
\nKuntjoro-Jakti, have been cited by many as the leading candidates
\nto gain the economic coordinating post.<\/p>\n
The President has left the initial drafting of the revamped
\nadministration to a group of three -- Minister of Mines and
\nEnergy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, State Minister
\nof Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid and Minister of Settlement and
\nTerritorial Development Erna Witoelar.<\/p>\n
The three ministers are due to submit their draft on the
\nCabinet structure to the President and Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri at Merdeka Palace on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the President also met with PKB leaders, who
\nreiterated their support for the Cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"We did not ask for any seats (in the Cabinet). This is not a
\nmatter of concession. We only care about the interest of the
\nnation,\" PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also received former Bank Bali owner Rudy Ramli on
\nSaturday. Rudy, however, refused to disclose the purpose of his
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
In the evening, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman was also
\nscheduled to meet with the President. Officials described it as a
\nprivate meeting.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said he was ready to serve the nation regardless his
\nposition in the government.<\/p>\n
\"I am always prepared to serve my country, no doubt about it,\"
\nsaid Surjadi after meeting with the President along with Cabinet
\nSecretary Marsilam Simanjuntak at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Surjadi, who is also interim coordinating minister for
\npolitical affairs and security, declined to elaborate on the
\nmeeting, saying only that \"we mainly discussed the preparation of
\nthe President's visit to Poso (Central Sulawesi) on Tuesday.\"
\n(prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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