Rumors rife of Cabinet reshuffle in the offing
JAKARTA (JP): Rumors of an impending Cabinet reshuffle resonated once again this week as President Abdurrahman Wahid prepared to embark on yet another lengthy foreign trip on Saturday.
The first inkling came from politician Ichsanuddin Noorsy who went to the Bina Graha presidential office on Wednesday.
"A Cabinet reshuffle is going on now," Ichsanuddin, a former member of the House of Representatives and now a political commentator, pronounced to journalists.
It was not immediately clear whom Ichsanuddin met at Bina Graha, which houses the president's office as well as Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simajuntak.
The President called a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to finalize implementation of the government's reform commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Marsilam denied speculations of a Cabinet reshuffle and said that the meeting did not touch on the issue at all.
The President has been under strong public pressure to make more changes to the Cabinet, widely criticized for lacking coordination.
National Business Development Council (DPUN) chairman Sofjan Wanandi said at the State Palace that several Cabinet members, especially economic ministers, should tender their resignations.
"I am sure you know which ministers should resign from the Cabinet," Sofjan said when asked to give names.
Palace officials privately said that the President could announce the changes during an eight-day trip that will take him to South Africa, Mexico, Cuba, and Hong Kong. On the flight back to Jakarta from Hong Kong on April 16, the President is expected to make a brief stopover in Tokyo to visit the ailing former Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi.
Abdurrahman has on two occasions suspended or replaced a minister during or immediately after visits abroad.
On a State visit to Europe in February, he announced his intention to suspend coordinating minister for political affairs and security Gen. Wiranto. He made good on his plan a day after returning on Feb. 16.
In December, he replaced Hamzah Haz with Basri Hasanudin as coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty eradication upon returning from a Middle East trip.
Another Cabinet change affected Ali Rahman, who was replaced as state secretary by Bondan Gunawan in January.
Cabinet members rumored for the axe are Minister of Industry and Trade Yusuf Kalla, State Minister of Investment and State Enterprises Development Laksamana Sukardi, and Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu.
Surjadi Soedirdja is expected to be confirmed as the president's chief political advisor to fill Wiranto's shoes, leaving the post of minister of home affairs vacant.
"The President prefers the ministry of home affairs to be led by a civilian," an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
State Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid is a leading candidate for the home affairs portfolio while Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Lt. Gen. Luhut Panjaitan, who is popular among Singapore's business community, may replace Jusuf Kalla. (prb/dja)