Golkar supports reshuffle demand: Akbar Tanjung

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar will offer a list of underachieving ministers if President Abdurrahman Wahid goes ahead with his plan to shake up his Cabinet, the party's chairman, Akbar Tandjung, said on Friday.

Akbar, who is the House of Representatives speaker, announced he had conveyed the offer during a meeting with Abdurrahman, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri and chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Matori Abdul Djalil on the eve of the President's departure for a 14-day overseas trip last week.

"If the President needs help, Golkar will recommend ministers who should quit the Cabinet," Akbar said after a meeting with a National Commission on Human Rights delegation.

Akbar said Golkar would let Abdurrahman decide what he thought was best, including a possible removal of the party's cadres in the Cabinet.

After the dismissal of Yusuf Kalla as minister of industry and trade recently, Golkar has Mahadi Sinambela, Bomer Pasaribu and Marzuki Darusman left to represent it in the Cabinet as state minister of youth affairs and sports, manpower minister and attorney general respectively.

In a meeting with chief executive officers of American companies in New York early this week, the President hinted that there would be another Cabinet reshuffle. He claimed to have received support from Akbar, Megawati and Matori.

According to the 1945 Constitution, the President has the prerogative to appoint and dismiss a minister.

Since taking office last October, Abdurrahman has fired four Cabinet ministers. His government has come under persistent criticism for a lack of teamwork.

Akbar said on Friday another reshuffle would be necessary to enable the government to cope with the complicated problems in security, the economy and national unity.

"Given the situation, it is normal for the President to reshuffle his Cabinet," Akbar said.

Deputy House Speaker Tosari Wijaya of the United Development Party (PPP) said the Muslim-based party agreed to let Abdurrahman choose his entrusted officials in the planned Cabinet reshuffle for the sake of national interest.

"Gus Dur should make the choices by himself so that there will be no grumbles about an underachieving Cabinet because of internal bickering," Tosari said, referring to the President by his popular nickname.

He added, however, that he believed Abdurrahman would consult major parties before announcing the reshuffle.

Economy

Meanwhile, PKB executive Yusuf Faisal suggested that the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle focus on the economic portfolio, which many said to be the main weakness of the current administration.

Yusuf said Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie, and Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo should be replaced because of their poor performance in implementing economic reform programs.

"Coordination between the two ministers are weak," he said on the sidelines of an economic presentation.

Yusuf is also the secretary-general of the influential National Business Development Council (DPUN) which advises the President on various business issues.

But Yusuf said a Cabinet reshuffle does not necessarily mean a dismissal of Cabinet members.

"The reshuffle could also be in the form of a rotation of a Cabinet member from one portfolio to another," he said.

He pointed out that Bambang could take over the top post in the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), while Kwik could become the coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty eradication.

"I heard that Gus Dur has asked Dorodjatun Kuntjorojakti to replace Kwik," Yusuf said, referring to the Indonesian ambassador to the United States.

"I also heard that former Bappenas chairman Boediono is more suitable to become the finance minister," he added. (jun/rei)