Gus Dur's Cabinet<\/p>\n
Speculations that President Abdurrahman Wahid is about to
\nrevamp his Cabinet have persisted this past week. So strong are
\nthe rumors that one suspects some of them have actually been
\nplanted to generate public pressure on Gus Dur to remove certain
\nmembers of the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Given his unpredictability, few people know what is going on
\nin the President's mind. Even Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
\nShihab, one of his confidants, could not rule out the possibility
\nof a reshuffle although he personally thought that the President
\nwould give his ministers another three months to prove
\nthemselves. The President's penchant for surprises is also partly
\nresponsible why rumors of an impending reshuffle have continued,
\neven as he has repeatedly denied it.<\/p>\n
Rumors aside, is it a valid question to ask today: Should the
\nPresident revamp the Cabinet? Few people had kind words about Gus
\nDur when they looked at the first 100 days of his administration
\nearly this month. But criticisms were harshest for Cabinet
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Although his is a collective leadership, the President's
\nhands-off style gives each and every minister a virtual free
\nreign to do as he or she thinks is best. That means that all
\nministers are almost fully accountable for their actions. They
\ncannot expect much support from the President if they come under
\nattack from the public.<\/p>\n
From the start of its formation in October, the Cabinet has
\nnever been a harmonious one. Even the President has admitted that
\nthis was not the Cabinet he would like to have. He has disclosed,
\non more than one occasion, that he would have preferred to keep
\nthe Cabinet small, with 18 members instead of the 35 he
\neventually had to settle with. Although constitutionally he has a
\nfull prerogative to name his Cabinet, Gus Dur opted for a
\ncompromise, accommodating the interests of political groups
\noutside his own small National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
It made sense, at the time at least, that a compromise
\nPresident should lead a compromise Cabinet. Looking back,
\nhowever, this was one compromise too many for the good of the
\nnation. The Cabinet is filled with people having completely
\ndifferent visions from the President's. Some ministers have
\ncontinued to pursue their own narrow political interests or
\nremain more subservient to their party bosses than the President
\nthey are supposed to be serving. With this kind of Cabinet, it is
\nno wonder that Gus Dur has been unable to govern effectively.<\/p>\n
The President has been aware of the predicament since he
\nformed the Cabinet. He has not remained silent either. He has
\nremoved three ministers from the Cabinet: Hamzah Haz
\n(coordinating minister for people's welfare), Gen. Wiranto
\n(coordinating minister for political affairs and security), and
\nAli Rahman (state secretary).<\/p>\n
This is quite a feat given that two, Hamzah Haz and Gen.
\nWiranto, had maneuvered their way into the Cabinet with the
\nbacking of respectively the United Development Party (PPP) and
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI). As events proved since then, the
\nPresident outmaneuvered these two men and ensured their
\ndeparture. It is interesting to see that each of these was
\nremoved only a day after Gus Dur's lengthy foreign visits: Hamzah
\nin December and Wiranto this month. Other ministers should watch
\nthemselves next time the President goes on another foreign trip
\nfor they could well be the next target.<\/p>\n
The President has a strong case to revamp his Cabinet, not
\nsolely because of the poor performance of the ministers, but more
\nso because they clearly do not share the same vision he has for
\nbuilding a civil society and about how to resolve the enormous
\nproblems facing Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The removal of a powerful figure such as Wiranto from the
\nCabinet signals a more confident Gus Dur, one not hesitant to act
\nwhen confronted with tough choices. Rumors and political
\npressures aside, it is time the President uses his constitutional
\nprerogative and shape the Cabinet more in accordance with his
\nvision. If he does not have the support of the majority of people
\nin this country, at least he has the constitutional backing. If
\nneeds to go abroad to obtain more international assurances and
\nsupport before he makes his next move, then by all means go.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-durs-cabinet-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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