Susilo working on reshuffle, Silalahi says<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular and Ridwan Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
This year's edition of Idul Fitri holiday may not be as festive
\ncompared to past years for a handful of Cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Some of them may find it helpful to voluntarily extend their
\nfast for some divine intervention that will help them stay in
\noffice.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will spend his time during
\nthe holiday scrutinizing his aides' performance, a brand new,
\nmeasured procedure that could end up in a reshuffle of his
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said on Tuesday the President
\nhad received progress reports from almost all of his aides.<\/p>\n
"The President is now waiting on various sources for input;
\neither positive or negative," Sudi said at the presidential
\noffice.<\/p>\n
He would not reveal when the President would make public the
\nresults of the performance appraisal of his ministers.<\/p>\n
Susilo visited the Southeast Sulawesi capital of Kendari on
\nTuesday, as part of his "Ramadhan safari".<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said the Cabinet members
\nhad been given until Thursday to submit their progress reports,
\nwhich will be examined directly by the President.<\/p>\n
"From Oct. 27 until sometime after Idul Fitri the President
\nwill evaluate the reports submitted by each of the ministers,"
\nJuwono said. Idul Fitri will fall on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4.<\/p>\n
Juwono denied rumors that he had tendered his resignation due
\nto ill health. "In the past six months I have gradually regained
\nmy fitness," he said.<\/p>\n
He had a mild stroke in 1999.<\/p>\n
Despite his health status, Juwono said everything was up to
\nthe President, who has the prerogative to appoint or dismiss his
\nCabinet members.<\/p>\n
"No problem," he said when asked if the President would drop
\nhim from the Cabinet. "It (dismissal) can happen anytime."<\/p>\n
He said he would submit his report on Thursday. In his report,
\nJuwono will highlight the markup practices during tenders to
\nprocure defense equipment by both domestic and overseas partner
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin submitted
\nhis report on Tuesday, which details achievements of his office
\nover the past year compared to the set targets.<\/p>\n
Hamid was deeply involved in the peace talks with the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) rebel group between January and July, which
\nresulted in the historic signing on Aug. 15 of a Memorandum of
\nUnderstanding for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the
\nprovince of Aceh.<\/p>\n
His contribution to the peace deal, however, has been deemed a
\nliability by House of Representatives lawmaker Muhammad A.S.
\nHikam, who demanded Hamid's dismissal for having neglected his
\nmain job.<\/p>\n
"His ministry is responsible for the House's failure to meet
\nthe target of endorsing 55 bills this year," Hikam of the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) exclaimed.<\/p>\n
The ministry and the House are supposed to work together in
\ndetermining priority bills for each year.<\/p>\n
"He dedicated his time to that peace negotiation (the Aceh
\ntalks), which was actually the duty of the chief security
\nminister," said Hikam, who was formerly the research minister
\nunder President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-working-on-reshuffle-silalahi-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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