SBY's allies seek more seats in the Cabinet<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The political parties supporting the administration of Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday they wanted more seats in any
\nreshuffled Cabinet -- something that is creating a headache for
\nthe President who has been facing public pressure to choose
\ntechnocrats rather than politicians for key Cabinet posts.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of Susilo's own Democrat Party (PD),
\nMuhammad Mubarok, said his party was given three seats in the
\ncurrent Cabinet, and had asked for at least one more seat.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Annis
\nMatta said his party would have no objection if its three members
\nin the current Cabinet were replaced provided it obtained four
\nseats in the reshuffled Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"We are seeking four seats, including a strategic portfolio,
\nto help this government improve its performance and cope with
\nmajor problems in the political, security and economic fields,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party, which is led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla
\nand is seen as the major backer of the government with 128 seats
\nin the 550-seat House of Representatives, has also demanded that
\nSusilo appoint more of its members to the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
In comparison, the PKS and PD respectively hold 45 and 55
\nseats in the House.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party deputy chairman Burhanuddin Napitupulu said it
\nwould be reasonable and acceptable if the President give more
\nCabinet posts to Golkar people because of the party's crucial
\nrole in supporting his government.<\/p>\n
Golkar, which only switched from the opposition camp to the
\nSusilo camp after Kalla won the party's leadership, has two of
\nits members in the current Cabinet: Coordinating Minister for the
\nEconomy Aburizal Bakrie and Minister of Manpower and
\nTransmigration Fahmi Idris.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin said that it was unfair that Golkar had only two
\nCabinet posts, the same as the Crescent Star Party (PBB), which
\nonly had 11 seats in the House.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin declined to say how many seats Golkar wanted in
\nthe reshuffled Cabinet, but a party official who requested
\nanonymity said that the political vehicle of former president
\nSoeharto wanted eight Cabinet posts.<\/p>\n
He said that Golkar's central board was full of qualified
\npeople ready to occupy key Cabinet posts.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar's executive board is actually a pseudo-cabinet and its
\nmembers are ready to take up positions related to their own
\nfields of expertise,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Tajudin Nur Said, Hari Ashari and Paskah Suzeta were
\noutstanding economists who were in charge of Golkar's economic
\nprograms while Muladi and Andi Matalatta handled legal affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Marzuki Darusman is in charge of foreign affairs while
\nBurhanuddin Napitupulu chairs the transportation, tourism and
\nhousing department,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Facing increasing public pressure, the President, who
\naccording to Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi is still evaluating
\nthe record of his ministers, is expected to shake up his Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Opinion polls have suggested that Susilo, the country's first
\ndirectly elected president, should not bow to political pressure,
\nand should instead pick professional people for the new Cabinet
\nlineup instead of politicians.<\/p>\n
I-box<\/p>\n
Politicians in current Cabinet
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nNo. Party No of seats
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\n 1. Democrat Party (PD) 2
\n 2. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 3
\n 3. Crescent Star Party (PBB) 2
\n 4. National Mandate Party (PAN) 2
\n 5. United Development Party (PPP) 2
\n 6. Golkar Party 2
\n 7. National Awakening Party (PKB)* 2<\/p>\n
Notes: * splinter group of PKB
\nNumber of ministers in current Cabinet: 35<\/p>\n
Source: The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sbys-allies-seek-more-seats-in-the-cabinet-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }