MPs may seek Cabinet reshuffle<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the interpellation motion filed against
\nhim and the fact that he has been under constant criticism
\nrecently, legislators said here on Saturday that it is unlikely
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid will be booted out of office during
\nthe August general session of the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
Legislators from three different parties said the most
\nprobable scenario would be a strong demand for Abdurrahman to
\nstrengthen the cabinet through another reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"That is the safest scenario,\" said Heri Akhmadi of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Heri admitted that there may be a slim chance of urging
\nAbdurrahman to step down from the presidency due to poor health.
\nHowever this was somewhat unlikely, he remarked.<\/p>\n
Golkar faction Chairman Syamsul Mu'arif maintained that such a
\ndrastic measure as impeachment was not yet necessary. However he
\nmaintained that the President does need to ensure that the
\nperformance of the cabinet improves.<\/p>\n
\"The structure of the cabinet is not effective. First of all,
\nthere are too many ministries whose areas overlap,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If there is a Ministry of Home Affairs, he said, why should
\nthere be a State Minister of Regional Autonomy?<\/p>\n
\"There is the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Settlement
\nand Territorial Development and the Ministry of Maritime
\nExploration. But when asked about who's in charge of the waters,
\nnobody answers\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Reform Faction at the House of Representatives
\nA.M. Lutfi, who is also a member of the Assembly's working
\ncommittee, maintained that there has been no formal preparation
\nfor impeachment.<\/p>\n
\"The agenda of the hearing is the President's progress report,
\n1945 Constitution amendments and the formulation of stipulations
\noutside the Constitution. Not impeachment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The three were panelists during a discussion here on Saturday
\nabout the prospects of the upcoming Assembly session.<\/p>\n
Despite his positive outlook, Heri also warned that
\nAbdurrahman should not take it for granted that his job is safe.<\/p>\n
\"He always wants to be understood but he's the one who should
\nactually be trying to understand people. And members of his
\nparty, the National Awakening Party (PKB), always think
\nnegatively about people who criticize Gus Dur,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Heri said Abdurrahman must change his behavior and stop
\nreplacing ministers at will or making spontaneous comments.<\/p>\n
\"If Gus Dur doesn't change, what can I say, maybe other
\nscenarios will happen,\" he said. (09)<\/p>",
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