Cabinet reshuffle crucial to improving performance<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid must reshuffle his
\ndiscredited Cabinet to improve the performance of his
\nadministration, particularly on the economic front, economists
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
An economist from the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies, Pande Raja Silalahi, said want of an effective economic
\nteam was one of the major weaknesses of the current
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
\"The problem has been in the absence of a solid economic team.
\nSo a Cabinet reshuffle is a must,\" Pande said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the new economic team must be filled with
\nprofessionals not affiliated with any political party.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said on Monday in his progress report to the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) that he planned another
\nCabinet shake-up. The President did not provide any details of
\nthe plan, but there has been speculation the reshuffle would take
\nplace later this month.<\/p>\n
Critics have said the economic ministers have performed poorly
\nin attempting to resolve the country's economic crisis. There
\nalso have been suggestions the ministers are more devoted to
\ntheir respected political parties than to the President.<\/p>\n
\"There was a clear acknowledgement in the President's speech
\nthat the performance of the economic ministers has not been
\noptimal,\" said Gadjah Mada University economist Sri Adiningsih.
\n\"And to avoid widespread dissatisfaction among the people, a
\nCabinet reshuffle is needed.\"<\/p>\n
Sri also said the new economic ministers should be independent
\nand professional to ensure full loyalty to the President.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an economist at a state-owned securities firm said
\nword of the impending Cabinet reshuffle was not new to the
\nfinancial market.<\/p>\n
\"The market is now waiting to see who will fill the posts. The
\nmarket wants professional people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and
\nIndustry Kwik Kian Gie said he was prepared to step aside if the
\nPresident chose to dismiss him.<\/p>\n
He said a Cabinet reshuffle was the prerogative of the
\nPresident. \"I'm ready to be reshuffled,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Kwik is a senior official with the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the largest party in the
\nlegislature. It is not clear whether the President has spoken
\nwith Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of PDI
\nPerjuangan, about a Cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
The recent dismissal of economic ministers Laksamana Sukardi,
\nanother PDI Perjuangan official, and Jusuf Kalla, a member of
\nGolkar Party, has been condemned by legislators from the two
\nparties, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Abdurrahman's
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono said he was unaware of any plans by the
\nPresident to appoint him \"first minister\".<\/p>\n
\"I have heard about the rumor, but I don't know anything about
\nit,\" the retired Army lieutenant-general said.<\/p>\n
There have been rumors Abdurrahman will create the powerful
\n\"first minister\" post to help him run his administration. People
\nalso say this move would help the President win the backing of
\nthe military.<\/p>\n
In other matters, Abdurrahman also said in his progress report
\nthat Indonesia's economy had emerged from its worst crisis in
\ndecades but the recovery was still in its early stages and had
\nyet to gain strength.<\/p>\n
He admitted the economic gains during his 10 months in office
\nwere relatively small. The President said that looking ahead,
\neconomic recovery would be based on four main pillars:
\nmacroeconomic stability, empowerment of economic institutions,
\nstructural policy reform and protection of the poor.<\/p>\n
The President also said the government would remain committed
\nto implementing the economic reform program agreed to with the
\nInternational Monetary Fund.<\/p>\n
The IMF signed an agreement with the current administration in
\nJanuary to provide some US$5 billion to help finance the
\ncountry's economic recovery.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, traders said the market responded positively to the
\nPresident's apology for the performance of his administration.<\/p>\n
After trading at an intraday high of Rp 8,725 to the U.S.
\ndollar, the rupiah ended at Rp 8,630 against the dollar in late
\ntrading on Monday. However, this was still lower than its Rp
\n8,608 close on Friday.<\/p>\n
The President told the 700-member Assembly, the country's
\nhighest legislative body, that he would learn from his past
\nmistakes. The apology is seen as an attempt to reduce the
\nopposition to his administration.<\/p>\n
The rupiah dropped to a 21-month low of Rp 9,570 per dollar
\nlast month amid political uncertainty ahead of the Assembly's 10-
\nday Annual Session that began on Monday. (rei\/bkm)<\/p>",
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