SBY still tight-lipped on Cabinet reshuffle
SBY still tight-lipped on Cabinet reshuffle
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Yesterday marked exactly one year since President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono officially took office on Oct. 20, 2004. However, no
special events were arranged to celebrate his first year in power
as sporadic protests against the recent fuel price hikes
continued across the country.
Nor did the President have anything to say about a reshuffle
of his "United Indonesia Cabinet".
Presidential spokesman Andi Alfian Mallarangeng said Susilo
would fully evaluate the performances of all his ministers before
making any decision on a reshuffle.
"A Cabinet reshuffle will depend on the results of the ongoing
evaluations. And whether he will do so or not is entirely his
prerogative," Andi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Susilo has repeatedly said he would conduct an annual
evaluation of the performances of his ministers and that those
performing poorly would be replaced.
A survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI)
recommended on Wednesday that Susilo reshuffle his Cabinet due to
perceived poor performance on the part of some of its members.
Although most of 1,000 respondents surveyed trusted Susilo's
abilities to lead the nation but were disappointed with his
economic ministers following fuel price increases averaging 126
percent.
Other polls carried out by the Indonesian Survey Institute and
the Kompas daily also revealed similar results, with many sides
calling for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Andi said the fuel hikes were the result of external factors
that adversely affected the government and nation. "These
problems, including the devastating tsunami in Aceh, bird flu and
the latest Bali bombings, are beyond our control."
Meanwhile, Susilo visited South Kalimantan on Thursday to
attend a gathering to celebrate Nuzulul Qur'an (the revelation of
the Koran) at the Sabilah Muhtadin Grand Mosque in Banjarmasin.
The President, who was accompanied by his wife Kristiani
Herrawati, also held an ifthar breaking-the-fast dinner with poor
people at the same mosque.