PKS continues to criticize Yudhoyono's leadership

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) secretary-general Anis Matta was at it again on Tuesday over President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's leadership, despite earlier requests from the President not to stir up a fuss over the coming reshuffle.

“If he wants to prove he is serious about wanting to improve the Cabinet's working performance, SBY shouldn’t install ministers who are also party leaders,” Anis said Tuesday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Earlier, Yudhoyono had faced criticism for his choice of Cabinet ministers, in which he was said to have leaned toward accomodating too many political interests instead of professional considerations.

This was the cause of the current Cabinet's ineffectiveness, political commentators said.

Anis added that his party had set a good example in this particular matter, replacing any party member who was elected as public official. Former PKS president Tifatul Sembiring, for example, was replaced once he was installed as communication and information technology minister.

“The president should follow our lead on this one,” Anis said.

There are currently at least three party chiefs who hold ministerial posts, namely Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa who is also the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar who is also the chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali who is also chief of the United Development Party (PPP).