Another Cabinet shake-up on Tuesday: Minister

Another Cabinet shake-up on Tuesday: Minister

JAKARTA (JP): The nation is set to witness yet another Cabinet
reshuffle involving not only the vacant post of attorney general,
but also other ministries, a senior Cabinet minister revealed.

The next reshuffle, prompted primarily by the sudden death of
Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa, is expected to take place on
Tuesday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab confirmed on Sunday
President Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to announce the new
attorney general on Tuesday, as well as the replacement of
several ministers.

"The next shake-up may involve the minister of defense and
minister of justice and human rights," Alwi, who is also
Abdurrahman's close confidante, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

"However, there has yet to be any specific decision," he
quickly added.

"But I want to underline that this is not a Cabinet reshuffle,
because the changes will be conducted in line with the vacancy in
the position of attorney general," he remarked.

Alwi also said the most likely candidate to fill the attorney
general position would be Marsillam Simanjuntak, the current
minister of justice and human rights.

Earlier, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD. said in Pamekasan,
East Java, on Saturday that he had been offered either
Marsillam's position or the attorney general post by the
President, but he had yet to reply to Abdurrahman.

"I was summoned by the President and he offered me the
position of justice minister or attorney general. But, it is up
to the President, I haven't responded yet to the offer," Mahfud
said as quoted by Antara.

There have also been reports that the position of minister of
defense could once again be held by a military officer, thus
prompting Abdurrahman to move Mahfud to a different portfolio.

Alwi did not deny the possibility of a military officer taking
up the position of minister of defense, saying "We are still
discussing it, it is not certain yet."

Mahfud also echoed Alwi, saying that the announcement of the
ministerial changes could be made on Tuesday, along with the
announcement of the name of the new attorney general.

He also noted that the shake-up would be a realistic move,
despite the People's Consultative Assembly special session being
less than three weeks away.

Should Abdurrahman's accountability be rejected during the
special session, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would
replace him as president.

"We should not assume that something extraordinary will happen
in the special session, because even during the session there is
still a chance of political compromise," Mahfud remarked.

He said that many other candidates were also suitable as
attorney general, such as noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis or
current expert staff member at the Attorney General's Office
Ahmad Ali, who is a professor of law at the University of
Indonesia.

"Whoever is appointed as attorney general should follow the
footsteps of the late Baharuddin Lopa in fighting corruption, and
the person should not mix legal enforcement with politics,"
Mahfud said. (dja)