JP/1/RESHUFFLE

JP/1/RESHUFFLE

Kalla assures businessmen of their places in Cabinet

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

Ministers coming from a business background, notably Aburizal
Bakrie, may breathe a sigh of relieve as their patron, Vice
President Jusuf Kalla, has defended their seats at the Cabinet
table ahead of an imminent reshuffle.

Speaking to public on Saturday in his hometown Makassar, Kalla
said that businessmen played important roles in the Cabinet and
in the country. Businesspeople fostered innovation and provided
jobs, and their leadership was beneficial to the nation, said the
Vice President.

"The role of businesspeople is crucial in the nation's
development," he said while addressing the opening of a meeting
of Bugis-Makassar entrepreneurs here.

There are 13 ministers with business backgrounds out of the
total Cabinet of 35. The sheer number of businesspeople in the
Cabinet is unprecedented in Indonesia and was only possible under
Kalla's leadership. Kalla was a business leader in eastern
Indonesia before he entered politics.

As he assumed the Golkar Party leadership last year, Kalla
gained more power and it gave him opportunity to place more like-
minded individuals in the Cabinet. "In the past, seven out of 10
ministers were generals, but times have changed," said Kalla, the
chairman of the mighty Golkar Party.

Kalla, who has been assigned by the President to coordinate
the economic portfolios, found himself in the hot seat after his
economic team came under public scrutiny over the fuel price
hikes and rising inflation.

But, the political clout that Kalla possesses appears likely
to save them from being fired by the President. Sources close to
the President said that Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Aburizal Bakrie would be kept in the Cabinet after a vote of
confidence from Kalla. Aburizal, who is successful businessman
and member of the Golkar Party, had been the target of criticism
after some quarters questioned his abilities in managing the
Indonesian economy.

Separately, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said on Saturday
that President Susilo would proceed with his plan to reshuffle
one or two ministers in the near future.

The President was evaluating the ministers' records and would
replace them at the right time, he said. "The replacements will
take place in the not so distant future," said Sudi, a Susilo
confidante.

In a separate development, Kalla reiterated that President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was planning to set down in writing the
"division of labor" between himself and the President. The plan
comes amid swirling rumors that the Vice President often bypassed
the President and dominated the decision making-process in the
Cabinet.

The written memorandum would be issued at the same time as the
Cabinet reshuffle.

"We already have a division of labor. But, as there have been
many questions from the public, the President is planning to draw
up clear demarcation lines between us," the Vice President told
reporters in Makassar. Kalla said his relationship with the
President was excellent, but the memorandum was necessary to end
public speculation.