T

en days ahead of his inauguration day, re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was busy receiving visitors at his private residence in Cikeas, just south of Jakarta on Saturday.

Around 11 a.m., Yudhoyono received vice president-elect Boediono and one hour later presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng. State Secretary Hatta Radjasa came later.

They were engaged in a closed-door meeting and later joined by the deputy chairman of the Democratic Party (PD), Anas Urbaningrum, and another presidential spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal.

Former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief, Djoko Suyanto, was seen but apparently left before the meeting started.

Yudhoyono spent most of his time in Cikeas in the last few days instead of at the Presidential Palace. With the Oct. 20 inauguration day approaching, Yudhoyono is believed to be starting to summon the people whom he will entrust with ministerial positions during his second presidency.

More than 100 names have been mentioned by the media but Yudhoyono has repeatedly denied that these names were coming from his side. He maintained that he was focusing on composing the first-100-day work program and then the five-year action plan for the 2009-2014 Cabinet.

Andi told reporters after the meeting that it was discussing the finalization of the programs and the structure of the next Cabinet; but did not yet come to the question of who would fill which posts.

He said it would be wrong to assume any of those summoned on Saturday might have been offered ministerial posts.

"*The meeting* discussed the structure of the new Cabinet but only on the composition of political parties, gender and diversity," Andi was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

Andi said earlier that the new Cabinet would be announced on Oct. 21, one day after the presidential inauguration.

Yudhoyono, founder and chief patron of the Democratic Party won the July 8 presidential election with more than 60 percent of the votes cast.

He was supported by four leading Islamic-based parties including the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the United Development Party (PPP).

Along with figures from his own party and some nonpartisan nominees, it has been predicted that Yudhoyono's Cabinet would be filled with nominees from his wide network of coalition partners.

However, the Cabinet could also be much more colorful following the recent election of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie as the Golkar Party chairman and the appointment of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chief patron, Taufik Kiemas, as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.

Both Aburizal and Taufik have openly stated their willingness to join Yudhoyono's coalition instead of simply leading the opposition.

This has sparked concerns among some observers and activists that the next Cabinet could be more accommodating of the interests of political parties than those of the people.