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.