Parties ready for Cabinet reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): A complete Cabinet overhaul in August looks inevitable as most major political parties have already given a green light to President Abdurrahman Wahid to perform one.

Representatives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB), National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice Party said over the weekend they would not object to a Cabinet reshuffle.

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung stated his support for such a move earlier last week.

The only apparent voice of concern belonged to the United Development Party chairman Hamzah Haz, the first of five Cabinet minister to have been replaced in the past eight months, who said on Saturday that a reshuffle would only create more confusion.

But with the two largest parties in the House of Representatives raising no strong objection, a reshuffle is increasingly becoming a foregone conclusion.

PDI Perjuangan legislator Panda Nababan said Abdurrahman had the full authority to do what he wished.

"PDI Perjuangan will not object to the idea and will respect Gus Dur's decision to reshuffle (his Cabinet)," Panda told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

Panda said if the President asked for one, the party would provide a list of underachieving ministers.

Meanwhile, PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil said the President should go ahead with a shakeup if he really felt it is necessary to improve the working performance of the administration.

"If a reshuffle is needed then go ahead. We, together with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais have discussed the matter," Matori said in Bengkulu on Saturday as quoted by Antara.

"But not in detail," he quickly added..

Assembly speaker Amien Rais also said a reshuffle would be in order as long as it improved the Cabinet's performance.

"A reshuffle is fine, but the current ministers should be replaced with more qualified and capable persons," Amien, who is also the chairman of the National Mandate Party, said on Sunday.

He further said the President had the full authority to make the changes, adding that discussions had been going on for sometime.

In the last eight months, Abdurrahman has replaced five of his Cabinet ministers and two senior presidential palace staff members.

The Cabinet shakeup issue was raised last week by the President himself in New York, United States. He hinted of the likelihood of such a reshuffle.

Meanwhile Justice Party chairman Hidayat Nurwahid said on Sunday that a reshuffle might be necessary given the government's track record so far.

However, he suggested it be held after the general session of the Assembly, which is scheduled for the second week of August.

Speaking to journalists after a party workshop in Depok, Hidayat said that after the general session would be a more appropriate time to hold a reshuffle since the President would have a better idea of the work and performance of his Cabinet.

Meanwhile, economist Tony Prasentyantono of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta said a Cabinet reshuffle, particularly involving the economic team, could help improve public trust.

But he stressed that it was crucial to find people with the right credentials.

"President Gus Dur must be able to obtain complete information about candidates' competency, otherwise the upcoming reshuffle will not make for any improvements in the economic field," he told the Post on Saturday.

The sole voice of dissent, Hamzah's, said that continuous changes would never resolve the fundamental problems the nation was facing.

"If Abdurrahman continues with the idea, our country's problems will never be solved. That is Gus Dur's leadership style," Hamzah said on Saturday in Ungaran, Central Java.

He further said that if the government wanted to truly start solving the country's problems then Abdurrahman should change his leadership style, rather than his Cabinet's makeup.

Hamzah also stressed that his party was still being patient and refraining from formally asking Abdurrahman to step down. He said his party was still hoping Abdurrahman would help resolve the country's problems.

"But, if, after being reminded, he does not show any improvement, including allowing communism to prevail in Indonesia, PPP will withdraw its ministers from the Cabinet," Hamzah remarked.

Hamzah did not elaborate if he meant the PPP or "Axis Force" Cabinet members, because, since Hamzah withdrew from the Cabinet, the PPP are no longer represented there. (dja/jun/har/44)