Gus Dur's Cabinet

Gus Dur's Cabinet

Speculations that President Abdurrahman Wahid is about to
revamp his Cabinet have persisted this past week. So strong are
the rumors that one suspects some of them have actually been
planted to generate public pressure on Gus Dur to remove certain
members of the Cabinet.

Given his unpredictability, few people know what is going on
in the President's mind. Even Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi
Shihab, one of his confidants, could not rule out the possibility
of a reshuffle although he personally thought that the President
would give his ministers another three months to prove
themselves. The President's penchant for surprises is also partly
responsible why rumors of an impending reshuffle have continued,
even as he has repeatedly denied it.

Rumors aside, is it a valid question to ask today: Should the
President revamp the Cabinet? Few people had kind words about Gus
Dur when they looked at the first 100 days of his administration
early this month. But criticisms were harshest for Cabinet
members.

Although his is a collective leadership, the President's
hands-off style gives each and every minister a virtual free
reign to do as he or she thinks is best. That means that all
ministers are almost fully accountable for their actions. They
cannot expect much support from the President if they come under
attack from the public.

From the start of its formation in October, the Cabinet has
never been a harmonious one. Even the President has admitted that
this was not the Cabinet he would like to have. He has disclosed,
on more than one occasion, that he would have preferred to keep
the Cabinet small, with 18 members instead of the 35 he
eventually had to settle with. Although constitutionally he has a
full prerogative to name his Cabinet, Gus Dur opted for a
compromise, accommodating the interests of political groups
outside his own small National Awakening Party (PKB).

It made sense, at the time at least, that a compromise
President should lead a compromise Cabinet. Looking back,
however, this was one compromise too many for the good of the
nation. The Cabinet is filled with people having completely
different visions from the President's. Some ministers have
continued to pursue their own narrow political interests or
remain more subservient to their party bosses than the President
they are supposed to be serving. With this kind of Cabinet, it is
no wonder that Gus Dur has been unable to govern effectively.

The President has been aware of the predicament since he
formed the Cabinet. He has not remained silent either. He has
removed three ministers from the Cabinet: Hamzah Haz
(coordinating minister for people's welfare), Gen. Wiranto
(coordinating minister for political affairs and security), and
Ali Rahman (state secretary).

This is quite a feat given that two, Hamzah Haz and Gen.
Wiranto, had maneuvered their way into the Cabinet with the
backing of respectively the United Development Party (PPP) and
the Indonesian Military (TNI). As events proved since then, the
President outmaneuvered these two men and ensured their
departure. It is interesting to see that each of these was
removed only a day after Gus Dur's lengthy foreign visits: Hamzah
in December and Wiranto this month. Other ministers should watch
themselves next time the President goes on another foreign trip
for they could well be the next target.

The President has a strong case to revamp his Cabinet, not
solely because of the poor performance of the ministers, but more
so because they clearly do not share the same vision he has for
building a civil society and about how to resolve the enormous
problems facing Indonesia.

The removal of a powerful figure such as Wiranto from the
Cabinet signals a more confident Gus Dur, one not hesitant to act
when confronted with tough choices. Rumors and political
pressures aside, it is time the President uses his constitutional
prerogative and shape the Cabinet more in accordance with his
vision. If he does not have the support of the majority of people
in this country, at least he has the constitutional backing. If
needs to go abroad to obtain more international assurances and
support before he makes his next move, then by all means go.