SBY video conference raise eyebrows
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.