Anticipation heightens as Cabinet reshuffle nears
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid had a busy afternoon on Saturday as the gates of Merdeka Palace resembled revolving doors with a flurry of ministers and political figures scurrying in and out.
The spate of activity reflected the general mood of many anxiously anticipating the lineup of the Cabinet, which is expected to be announced within the next seven days.
Among the guests at the official presidential residence were leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB), banker Rudy Ramli and Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. (ret.) Surjadi Soedirdja.
Outgoing Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie also had lunch with the President at Bina Graha presidential office along with a senior journalist.
Kwik, who tendered his resignation from the Cabinet on Aug. 10, said he briefed Abdurrahman on the progress of his work in the last 10 months.
"I (also) told the President that whatever he decides about me, I will accept it," Kwik said after the meeting.
"However, about a position in the Cabinet, I will see its composition first. I have learned from past experience."
Tempo news weekly general manager Fikri Jufri accompanied Kwik during the luncheon. According to Kwik, Fikri was there as a friend of Abdurrahman and himself.
Kwik claimed the President accepted his explanation regarding the country's economic progress, including his negotiations with international donors like the International Monetary Fund.
Kwik added that he would also brief the Cabinet in its last meeting on Wednesday, and the weekly economic meeting on Monday about the government's strategy in the past and anticipating the forthcoming year.
Speaking on the Cabinet shake-up, Kwik, a deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle party, said the President should not only pick professional and capable candidates for his economic team but also people who have strong support from a political party.
"The ministers should come from the political parties, while the technocrats who don't join a political party, let them just hold a director-general level position," Kwik said.
Kwik and Indonesian ambassador to the U.S., Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, have been cited by many as the leading candidates to gain the economic coordinating post.
The President has left the initial drafting of the revamped administration to a group of three -- Minister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, State Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid and Minister of Settlement and Territorial Development Erna Witoelar.
The three ministers are due to submit their draft on the Cabinet structure to the President and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at Merdeka Palace on Sunday.
Earlier, the President also met with PKB leaders, who reiterated their support for the Cabinet reshuffle.
"We did not ask for any seats (in the Cabinet). This is not a matter of concession. We only care about the interest of the nation," PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil said.
Abdurrahman also received former Bank Bali owner Rudy Ramli on Saturday. Rudy, however, refused to disclose the purpose of his meeting.
In the evening, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman was also scheduled to meet with the President. Officials described it as a private meeting.
Surjadi said he was ready to serve the nation regardless his position in the government.
"I am always prepared to serve my country, no doubt about it," said Surjadi after meeting with the President along with Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak at Merdeka Palace.
Surjadi, who is also interim coordinating minister for political affairs and security, declined to elaborate on the meeting, saying only that "we mainly discussed the preparation of the President's visit to Poso (Central Sulawesi) on Tuesday." (prb)