President urged to reshuffle economic ministers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The clamor is growing for President Abdurrahman
\nWahid to fire his economic ministers amid public impatience over
\ntheir perceived inability to pull the country out of the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Deputy executive director of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) J. Kristiadi said on Monday the
\nPresident, who is nicknamed Gus Dur, should reshuffle his
\neconomic lineup.<\/p>\n
\"The President should soon 'overhaul' his ministers because
\npeople who have suffered for so long are growing impatient,\"
\nKristiadi said at a news conference on the six-month-old
\ngovernment's performance.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur actually wanted to reshuffle the ministers but he
\nexpected public support.\"<\/p>\n
He said new ministers should be competent, free from vested
\ninterests, understand the gravity of the country's problems and
\nbe willing to suffer the people's hardships.<\/p>\n
The government's performance did not indicate an understanding
\nof the momentous problems facing the country, he said, pointing
\nto turmoil caused by issues of rice prices, sugar imports,
\nproposed fuel price hikes and hefty allowance increases for high-
\nranking civil servants.<\/p>\n
He said the problems indicated cooperation and coordination
\namong the ministers was weak.<\/p>\n
The public did not understand the Cabinet's gradual approach
\nto effecting recovery, he warned.<\/p>\n
\"Consequently, people are impatient and easily drawn into mass
\ndisturbances,\" Kristiadi said.<\/p>\n
The center's executive director, Hadi Soesastro, said the
\nministers' lacked vision.<\/p>\n
\"I agree with a reshuffle, but not only the ministers, the
\nsystem should also be improved,\" said the noted economist.<\/p>\n
He also faulted the ministers for sluggishness, such as in the
\nslow application of the letter of intent with the International
\nMonetary Fund (IMF).<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also
\ncriticized the President's economic team last week, saying they
\nlacked a comprehensive economic vision.<\/p>\n
He said it caused the postponement of an IMF loan.<\/p>\n
Many analysts believe Abdurrahman's establishment of economic
\ncouncils is an indicator of his lack of confidence in his
\neconomic ministers.<\/p>\n
Premature<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Business Recovery Council (DPUN)
\nSofjan Wanandi decried as premature the calls for a reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"It is not fair to judge the performance of a minister or a
\nCabinet only five months old. The economic team of ministers
\nconsists of personnel from various political parties. They need
\ntime to consolidate. Let us give them more time. It's too early
\nto judge their performance,\" Sofjan said in Surabaya on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said there was no immediate plan for a Cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"What I heard is the President is giving the ministers' time
\nwhile he evaluates their performance.\"<\/p>\n
Sofjan, who also heads the Gemala Group, predicted that
\nforeign investors would return by year's end or early next year.<\/p>\n
\"They are just skeptical about law and order in Indonesia.
\nPolitical stability, legal certainty are everything to them. They
\nare in a wait-and-see position.\"<\/p>\n
To deal with labor-related problems, a meeting between DPUN,
\nthe Ministry of Manpower, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and 20
\nlabor unions will be held at the State Palace on Wednesday,
\nSofjan said.<\/p>\n
\"We will discuss economic and labor-related problems. We have
\nto think about 36 million members of the work force who remain
\njobless.<\/p>\n
\"The President will witness the meeting. Business recovery and
\npolitical stability need support, especially the workers with
\ntheir various demands.\" (jun\/nur\/sur)<\/p>",
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