Pressures mount for more Cabinet shake-up

Pressures mount for more Cabinet shake-up

JAKARTA (JP): Although there has been no confirmation of
swirling reports of an impending Cabinet reshuffle, leading
politicians said on Friday that President Abdurrahman Wahid
should fire incompetent ministers.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
said the President should dismiss ministers who failed to perform
up to expectations.

But the party's faction chairman Dimyati Hartono said the
changes should be minor. "A major reshuffle is not needed. We
have to give more opportunities to the ministers to work and show
their performance.

"The government has not made significant progress so far
because it has had to deal with problems inherited from previous
regimes."

The United Development Party (PPP) said several ministers
failed to make headway in their duties since their appointment in
October.

"There is even a minister who constantly faces protests over
his past business practices. His presence will affect the
Cabinet's overall performance," chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) Rusydi Hamka said.

The Golkar Party also supported giving the ax to poorly
performing ministers.

"Of course, it is the President's prerogative, but he should
heed the aspirations of the people," Slamet Effendy Yusuf said.

Abdurrahman was dismissive when asked to comment on the
rumors.

"That is just some people talking," he said in Yogyakarta.

Speculation was boosted after the President suspended Gen.
Wiranto from his post as coordinating minister for political
affairs and security and Ali Rahman resigned as secretary of
state on Monday.

Wiranto is the subject of an ongoing official investigation
into his alleged role in the violence in East Timor in September.
Ali tendered his resignation amid media allegations that he
accepted bribes when he was an official of the National
Development Planning Board.

Digging up dirt on ministers' past indiscretions appears to
have become a favorite media pursuit.

Recent target

The most recent target was Coordinating Minister for the
Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie, who reportedly held
shares in a Jakarta massage parlor.

Kwik confirmed the ownership, but said the shares were
business loan collateral transferred to him when the debtors
defaulted.

Minister of Industry and Trade Jusuf Kalla and Minister of
Manpower Bomer Pasaribu have also been the target of allegations
of past misconduct.

Even his close aides are not sure if the President, notorious
for his unpredictability, will make changes to the Cabinet soon.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab believed the President
would give his ministers six months in order to evaluate their
performance.

"But this is only my analysis, not what the President thinks,"
said Alwi, regarded as one of the Abdurrahman's confidants.

Alwi said he was particularly offended by a Republika daily
report on Friday, speculating the President would appoint him
Indonesia's ambassador to the United Nations and that he would be
replaced by Marzuki Darusman, currently the attorney general.

"I question the intention of the daily," he said, terming the
report malicious.

Rumors of a reshuffle persisted among politicians and pundits
on Friday, and even some Cabinet ministers, speaking on the
condition of anonymity, joined in the speculation.

Director of RiDep research institution Hermawan Sulistyo said
the President did not select his ministers based on skill or
competence, but more on political accommodation of the various
political groups that ensured his election.

If he was forced to reshuffle the Cabinet now, he should
replace ministers who lacked managerial skills and those who
continued to pursue their own narrow political interests,
Hermawan said.

An analyst in politics at Gadjah Mada University in
Yogyakarta, Pratikno, predicted difficulty for the President to
make changes to the Cabinet without consulting the sponsors of
each of the ministers.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leaders Said Aqiel Siraj and Noer
Iskandar al-Barsany said Abdurrahman should replace Presidential
Secretary Ratih Kaniawan Hardjono with a member of the Muslim
organization.

Ratih, a former Kompas journalist, has been the subject of
several newsmagazines' cover stories in recent weeks which have
focused on her influence over the President.

Critics have also accused her of being an agent of the
Australian government. Ratih told legislators on Thursday that
she was willing to face her accusers in court.

"It's better to get rid of Ratih to avoid more negative
publicity," Noer Iskandar said. (44/45/emf/rms/edt/prb/04)