Calls mount for Cabinet reshuffle amid failures

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Calls to reshuffle the Cabinet are again mounting. Analysts have blamed the development on the Cabinet's poor teamwork and asked whether a reshuffle would benefit President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The answer appears to be both yes and no.

Continued blunders, such as a Government-sponsored treasure hunt and the inept handling of issues surrounding the eviction of Indonesian workers from Malaysia, have led up to new pressure for changes in the Cabinet lineup.

"The time is right for Megawati to reshuffle the Cabinet," political analyst Indria Samego of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said over the weekend. "It will boost the government's performance."

Media reports have speculated a reshuffle will be announced after Megawati returns from her trip to South Africa and Europe in September.

Several members of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) have also called for new ministers.

Last week Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Al Munawar embarrassed the government when he gave permission for a treasure hunt on a protected historic site in the West Java town of Bogor.

Earlier labor minister Jacob Nuwewa was lambasted for his lack of action after many thousands of illegal Indonesian workers were booted out of Malaysia.

Sporadic debate between ministers as to whether Indonesia needs the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is providing aid under a tough austerity program, has come to undermine the government's credibility.

"It comes down to poor coordination," Indria said.

Indeed, the only minister whom critics have labeled as incompetent is Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil. Others have either failed to follow the government's line, like outspoken State Minister for National Development Planning Kwik Kian Gie, or have been criticized for their policies.

Indria added that several ministers might be competent but they were unable to get things moving, such as Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti.

"Dorodjatun has a good understanding of the economy but we cannot approach our economy with theories alone."

The economic team has been praised for reestablishing cordial relations with international donors, notably the IMF.

A stronger rupiah and a vibrant stock market are the immediate impact of this. Yet bank restructuring remains painfully slow and farmers, the largest source of employment in Indonesia, cannot compete with the glut of imported commodities.

"Megawati's fate depends on how the public is responding to her government," Indria said. "It may not be in her character (to change ministers) but she might do it anyway out of necessity."

Rumors of Cabinet reshuffles first emerged late last year. Those playing down the possibility argued that Megawati refused to follow the infamous moves of predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid who frequently changed ministers.

It took Megawati more than two weeks to finalize her 32-member Cabinet. But she rewarded the waiting with a sound lineup which focused on professionalism without disfavoring political allies.

Megawati confidante and PDI Perjuangan deputy Secretary General Pramono Anung agreed that a reshuffle was unlikely.

"I asked her directly about this (reshuffle plan) and she said no," Pramono told The Jakarta Post.

Recruiting new ministers less than two years before the 2004 general election may also prove risky, according to political observer Riswandha Imawan of the University of Gadjah Mada.

A reshuffle would show her as shifting problems onto others which he said would miss the point.

Riswandha said the Cabinet was suffering more from poor teamwork rather than incompetent members. "We have here a team of specialists. The malady among many specialists is that they have big egos, and that is hampering teamwork," he explained.