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.