New health minister, deputy energy minister to be named on Wednesday

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to announce the names for the new health minister and new deputy energy and mineral resources minister, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said.

Julian said Tuesday that the President would publicly introduce the new faces in a Cabinet speech at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java scheduled for Wednesday.

“The President will announce the new names at the Bogor Palace tomorrow [Wednesday],” said Julian as quoted by kompas.com.

He refused to mention the names that will fill the position of health minister, which has been vacant since Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih died of cancer on May 2, and deputy energy minister, which is empty after Widjajono Partowidagdo passed away on April 21.

Current secretary of the Indonesia’s National AIDS Commission (KPA), Nafsiah Mboi, is rumored to be the new health minister, while Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) energy expert Rudi Rubiandini is believed to fill the late Widjajono’s shoes.

Rudi, who currently serves as the operational deputy of the country’s upstream oil and gas authority BPMigas, confirmed the rumor on Tuesday, but added that he was still waiting for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to set the record straight.

“I am still waiting for confirmation from the President,” he said Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co.

In addition, the President is also expected to announce the new chiefs for the National Land Body (BPN) and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). (asa)