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Indonesian President Indicates Cabinet Reshuffle
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid indicated here Monday that he will reshuffle his cabinet some time in the near future after the annual session of the Assembly completed, but he did not elaborate further.
"In due course, we will conduct cabinet reshuffle. This means there will be a clear division of responsibility among the ministers," Wahid said when delivering a progress report speech before the session.
"I myself have yet to determine who would be replaced and how the reshuffle would take place," he said.
Wahid's statement however triggered further speculations that the incumbent President probably will pick up what he said as "the First Minister" in charge of coordinating the working of cabinet ministers.
Rumors has been spreading that Wahid will appoint minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the First Minister.
But it seems that such a move would be opposed by Parliamentarians.
"I know that cabinet reshuffle is a prerogative right of the President. But I don't think that such a move (appointing the First Minister) will be fruitful. The President only needs to coordinate his cabinet ministers. There is no needs (to appoint The First Minister)," Hatta Rajasa, a parliamentarian of the Reform Party told reporters in the sideline of the session.
Earlier Wahid also said that he might reshuffle his cabinet in August.
Since he took reign in October last year, Wahid has made cabinet reshuffles for several times. The last reshuffle took place in April this year, when Laksamana Sukardi and Jusuf Kalla were removed from their posts as Minister of Investment and Minister of Trade and Industry, respectively.
The move however triggered anger and disappointment among parliamentarians and forced the House to file a motion for interpellation to the president last month.
Wahid cabinet now has been under fire for their alleged failure in dealing with the protracted economic and political crisis in the country.
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