More names suggested for reshuffle

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 04/24/2007 3:15 PM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More names have been tipped as candidates ahead of a plan by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reshuffle his cabinet next month as political parties suggest members for the ministerial posts.

Halfway through his term, this will be Yudhoyono's second cabinet shake-up, with strong accusations the move is to appease certain parties' demands for political power over the President.

As parties push for ministerial posts, an analyst at a survey organization suggested Yudhoyono have them sign a contract agreeing to unconditionally support his policies at the parliamentary level.

Executive director of the Indonesian Survey Institute Saiful Mujani said Monday such a contract would ensure constant support for Yudhoyono's policies and mean he would not have to reshuffle his cabinet out of pressure.

""His supporting parties are too many now and need downsizing. The logic is that with fewer parties, they'll get more ministerial posts and this should give incentive to the parties to perform and commit to the President,"" he was quoted as saying by detik.com news portal.

With his Democratic Party having only a few seats in the House, Yudhoyono has needed a large coalition of support to see his policies come to implementation, particularly with the House having power over the state budget.

There are six major parties now supporting the administration -- the Golkar Party, the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party, the Prosperous Justice Party and the United Development Party.

""But these are also the parties blocking some of Yudhoyono's policies at the parliamentary level. It's ineffective,"" said Saiful.

The President reportedly plans to either replace or rotate around 11 ministers who have been at the center of public attention over their performances and poor health.

The planned reshuffle is also to accommodate the demands of political parties who claim to have given their full support to Yudhoyono.

Some of the ministers to be moved reportedly include State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin, both of whom have been criticized for their alleged involvement in the transfer of US$10 million to Hutomo ""Tommy"" Mandala Putra.

The reshuffle could also affect ailing Home Minister M. Ma'ruf, Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa, State Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saifullah Yusuf, State Minister for State-owned Enterprises Sugiharto and Transmigration and Manpower Minister Erman Suparno.

Possible changes include former Air Force chief Marshal (ret) Chappy Hakim to unseat Hatta Radjasa; Golkar's executive Muladi, also the National Resilience Institute governor, in the stead of Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and the chairman of Golkar faction at the House, Andi Mattalata, to replace Hamid Awaluddin.

The PKB, as quoted by www.korantempo.com news portal, said Monday they would propose its deputy treasurer Bahruddin Nasory to replace Erman and its secretary general Lukman Edy to replace Saifullah.

Golkar is also reported to have submitted several names to get the most ministerial posts, matching its position as the country's largest party.

Analysts have reminded President Yudhoyono to put professionalism over the political demands of parties.

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