Rumors rife of Cabinet reshuffle in the offing
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)