SBY video conference raise eyebrows

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision to lead Cabinet meetings while on an overseas trip has begun to spark speculation as to whether he has lost trust in his aides at home.

Susilo, who is on a trip to the United States, held his second Cabinet meeting by video conference in as many days on Tuesday.

"I do not know whether this is proof of President Susilo's concern about the country's situation. But the function of a vice president is to ensure that the country's administration runs smoothly while the president is away, isn't it?" said Emir Moeis, the chairman of the House of Representatives' budget committee.

"The daily teleconference could be seen as Susilo's lack of trust in (Jusuf) Kalla. The President wants to make sure that nothing fishy goes on while he is away. But I do not see it as a big problem thus far," said Emir of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Unlike in the first video conference-led Cabinet meeting on Monday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

Susilo plans to hold a Cabinet meeting every morning during his six-day stay in the U.S. in order to directly oversee the administration. Susilo did not take part in Cabinet meetings during his previous overseas trips.

The President has left a country facing its toughest economic challenges since the crisis in 1997. His government plans to raise fuel prices for a second time this year in the coming months.

Susilo is also expected to appraise his ministers' performance next month, amid increasing demands that the economics ministers be replaced.

State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Susilo wanted to directly oversee his ministers to resolve the various problems confronting the country.

"Although President Susilo has given the authority to Vice President Kalla to manage the country while he is away, the Vice President is still not in a position to make any decisions," said Yusril.