SBY's allies seek more seats in the Cabinet

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The political parties supporting the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday they wanted more seats in any reshuffled Cabinet -- something that is creating a headache for the President who has been facing public pressure to choose technocrats rather than politicians for key Cabinet posts.

The deputy chairman of Susilo's own Democrat Party (PD), Muhammad Mubarok, said his party was given three seats in the current Cabinet, and had asked for at least one more seat.

Secretary-general of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Annis Matta said his party would have no objection if its three members in the current Cabinet were replaced provided it obtained four seats in the reshuffled Cabinet.

"We are seeking four seats, including a strategic portfolio, to help this government improve its performance and cope with major problems in the political, security and economic fields," he said.

The Golkar Party, which is led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and is seen as the major backer of the government with 128 seats in the 550-seat House of Representatives, has also demanded that Susilo appoint more of its members to the Cabinet.

In comparison, the PKS and PD respectively hold 45 and 55 seats in the House.

Golkar Party deputy chairman Burhanuddin Napitupulu said it would be reasonable and acceptable if the President give more Cabinet posts to Golkar people because of the party's crucial role in supporting his government.

Golkar, which only switched from the opposition camp to the Susilo camp after Kalla won the party's leadership, has two of its members in the current Cabinet: Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie and Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris.

Burhanuddin said that it was unfair that Golkar had only two Cabinet posts, the same as the Crescent Star Party (PBB), which only had 11 seats in the House.

Burhanuddin declined to say how many seats Golkar wanted in the reshuffled Cabinet, but a party official who requested anonymity said that the political vehicle of former president Soeharto wanted eight Cabinet posts.

He said that Golkar's central board was full of qualified people ready to occupy key Cabinet posts.

"Golkar's executive board is actually a pseudo-cabinet and its members are ready to take up positions related to their own fields of expertise," he said.

He said Tajudin Nur Said, Hari Ashari and Paskah Suzeta were outstanding economists who were in charge of Golkar's economic programs while Muladi and Andi Matalatta handled legal affairs.

"Marzuki Darusman is in charge of foreign affairs while Burhanuddin Napitupulu chairs the transportation, tourism and housing department," he said.

Facing increasing public pressure, the President, who according to Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi is still evaluating the record of his ministers, is expected to shake up his Cabinet.

Opinion polls have suggested that Susilo, the country's first directly elected president, should not bow to political pressure, and should instead pick professional people for the new Cabinet lineup instead of politicians.

I-box

Politicians in current Cabinet --------------------------------------------------------------- No. Party No of seats --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Democrat Party (PD) 2 2. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 3 3. Crescent Star Party (PBB) 2 4. National Mandate Party (PAN) 2 5. United Development Party (PPP) 2 6. Golkar Party 2 7. National Awakening Party (PKB)* 2

Notes: * splinter group of PKB Number of ministers in current Cabinet: 35

Source: The Jakarta Post