Golkar's Kalla confirms 'minor' Cabinet reshuffle

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Semarang

Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed on Wednesday that only one or two underachieving ministers would leave the Cabinet in the upcoming reshuffle.

"It's not true that Golkar has proposed nine (new) names. The President will replace only one or two ministers whose performance is below the required standard. Cabinet reshuffles are the President's prerogative but Golkar is ready to supply its best members (for ministerial seats) if they are needed," Kalla said before opening the party's leadership meeting.

Asked when the reshuffle would be announced, Kalla said the President was expected to publicly announce it days after arriving back from overseas. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is visiting India and Pakistan, and is scheduled to arrive home on Saturday.

Earlier, Kalla defended the performance of the government's economic team under Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie, who is also a Golkar member.

Several surveys recommended that the President replace his economic team, which is blamed for the skyrocketing fuel prices and the double-digit inflation rate.

Among the political parties supporting the administration, only the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has been outspoken in demanding the replacement of Susilo's economic team.

While overseas, Susilo criticized government officials who also ran businesses, and said he would immediately issue a regulation to prevent them from abusing their power to enrich themselves or their families. Kalla and Aburizal both have families involved in business activities.

Separately, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Soetrisno Bachir warned political party leaders against preventing the President from reshuffling his Cabinet. He did not name the leaders he was referring to.

Susilo allocated some of the seats in his first Cabinet for PAN, the Democratic Party that he founded, the United Development Party, the Crescent Star Party, the Prosperous Justice Party and Golkar.

"Reshuffling the Cabinet is the President's prerogative, therefore party leaders should not hamper the process," Soetrisno told a party function in Semarang.

Earlier Golkar deputy chairman Muladi, who heads the government-military think-tank, the National Resilience Institute, suggested that Kalla refrain from intervening in the planned Cabinet reshuffle.