Cabinet meeting frequency tripled

JAKARTA: Often criticized for a lack of coordination, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will triple the number of cabinet meetings to six times a month starting in January.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after Thursday's cabinet meeting that the aim was to show that the government was highly committed to improving the condition of the country.

"Aware of the complexity of the problems facing the country, the government needs to improve coordination," Susilo said.

In the beginning of her tenure, Megawati decided to only hold two cabinet meetings each month. She stays in the State Palace until 2 p.m. each day, and sometimes receives state guests at her official residence.

Her critics say that her government is too slow in dealing with state problems which have battered the country since the economic crisis began in 1997.

"As of next year, we will have two plenary cabinet meetings and four limited cabinet meetings a month," Susilo said.--JP