SBY too slow on reshuffle: Analyst

SBY too slow on reshuffle: Analyst

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is being criticized for moving
too slowly in deciding on a much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle, which
the public considers crucial to help cope with the country's
economic difficulties.

"The President is very slow in responding to public demand for
a Cabinet reshuffle. The people, the market and foreign investors
are still waiting for a dramatic change in the way the duo
(Susilo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla) lead the nation and run
the administration," Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI) told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The President should be seen as a tough decision maker and
should not take into account too many considerations in making
changes to the Cabinet, including replacing his beleaguered
economics team.

"So far, he has talked too much and held too many meetings,
but no concrete measures have been taken to cope with the
political, security and economic problems," Ikrar said.

He added that Susilo, the country's first directly elected
president, should not bow to pressure from political parties in
selecting new Cabinet members, as picking qualified people rather
than politicians for key Cabinet posts was important to help
resolve the country's lingering problems.

"The President must be able to counter stronger pressure from
political parties supporting his government and appoint capable
aides because a majority of the people affected by the fuel price
hike won't wait much longer. They want to see something new that
could lighten their financial burden," he said.

He stressed that Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Aburizal Bakrie, Minister of Trade Mari Pangestu and Minister of
Finance Yusuf Anwar should be replaced as they were deemed
responsible for the lingering economic hardships faced by the
people.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said the President
had yet to complete his evaluation of Cabinet members, a
statement which contradicted his recent remarks that evaluations
had been completed and that the results would be announced soon
after Idul Fitri.

He said there had been no discussion at the State Palace on
whether the President would shake up his Cabinet or not.

He also dismissed reports that the President had started
interviewing candidates for a new Cabinet.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in Makassar, South Sulawesi,
that he was not certain about a Cabinet reshuffle.

"The Cabinet will be reshuffled only if there are Cabinet
members who fail to perform as expected," he said.

He also denied that the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had
threatened to withdraw its political support for the government,
saying: "It (the threat) is a statement of Tifatul and not an
aspiration of the PKS."

Tifatul Sembiring is president of the PKS. PKS secretary-
general Annis Matta said recently that the PKS had been pressured
by its supporters and regional chapters to withdraw its support
for the government following the controversial decision to raise
fuel prices.