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.