Parties input on evaluation of ministers not sought

Parties input on evaluation of ministers not sought

Rendi Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Political parties should restrain themselves from interfering in
the performance appraisal of Cabinet members that President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was now conducting, a minister says.

"Political parties have neither given input on the performance
of Cabinet members nor requested more seats in the Cabinet.
Input has so far come from some institutions based on
professional judgment," Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said at
the State Palace on Sunday.

Sudi refused to elaborate, but emphasized that while advice
from third parties would be taken into account, the President
would be evaluating his aides based on his personal observations.

All Cabinet members were required to submit progress reports
detailing their programs and achievements during their year in
office. Susilo will score the reports.

Demands for a Cabinet reshuffle, particularly in the economic
team, have mounted as Susilo marks his first year in power on
Oct. 20. A survey also suggested that the President should
demonstrate that he was the boss by demanding that his Vice
President play a back-seat role.

Some politicians from Susilo's Democrat Party have been
pushing for more seats in the Cabinet, while several United
Development Party (PPP) and National Awakening Party (PKB)
politicians have asked the President to replace certain ministers
that they claim do not represent their parties. The Golkar Party
-- Susilo's main support base -- has not officially raised the
need for a reshuffle.

Susilo distributed almost a half the Cabinet seats to figures
deemed as representatives of political parties that supported his
presidential bid last year. Political compromise was also a
hallmark of Cabinets under former presidents Abdurrahman Wahid
and Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Sudi denied reports that Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono
and Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar had tendered their
resignations.

"The reports are baseless," said Sudi. Both Jusuf and Juwono
had earlier dismissed the reports.

While Vice President Jusuf Kalla indicated that the reshuffle
might take place in November, Sudi refused on Sunday to confirm
the statement.

Sudi, however, confirmed that Susilo had on Saturday invited
some ministers to his private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, in
relation to the performance appraisal.

However, Sudi would not elaborate on the substance of the
meeting.