SBY caught between practicality, mysticism
Rendi A. Witular and Slamet Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta
Having once served as a full-time Presidential residence, the Gedung Agung Presidential Palace in Yogyakarta witnessed another historic moment on Monday when for the first time in Indonesia's history, the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, announced a limited Cabinet shakeup outside the capital.
Susilo drafted and announced the changes on Monday at the building -- which once served as the residence of founding President Sukarno between 1946 and 1949 -- after calling Vice President Jusuf Kalla to join him in the afternoon.
Kalla's public relations advisor, Muchlis Hasyim, said the Vice President previously had no plans to fly to Yogyakarta.
"Pak Susilo called Pak Kalla three times, insisting the latter meet with him in Yogyakarta ... The Vice President had previously planned to go home early as he didn't feel well," Muchlis said.
Susilo had earlier been expected to announce the changes soon after his ministers submitted their performance appraisals in October. Speculation has been rife that the cause of the delay has been a tug-of-war between the country's two top leaders over the makeup of the Cabinet's economic team.
But Susilo's decision to make the announcement in Yogyakarta has raised many eyebrows. Many believe it was merely for practical reasons due to his itinerary, which included a keynote speech at the opening of the second International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) for junior high students earlier in the day.
As he is expected to attend a ceremony at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java -- some 50 kilometers north of Yogyakarta -- on Tuesday morning, it would be impractical for the President to fly back to Jakarta.
"It would be a waste of time and money if I were to return to Jakarta just to announce the reshuffle and then go to Magelang the next day," Susilo said in his speech.
Gedung Agung itself is no stranger to the country's historical events. Apart from serving as the presidential residence for a time, the palace also witnessed the inauguration of the country's first military commander, Gen. Sudirman, in 1947. It has also served as the venue for the Independence Day commemorations, every Aug. 17.
But aside from the practicality and the historical records, many also believe that the announcement in Yogyakarta was based on Susilo's attempt to seek "good luck" in his tenure with the new ministers as Yogyakarta, being the seat of the Javanese kingdom for centuries, is seen as a sacred place.
Susilo denied that his choice of Yogyakarta had anything to do with mysticism.
"The announcement has nothing to do with mysticism," he remarked. "I am a devout Muslim. Don't mislead the public about such issues."