President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced changes in a highly anticipated Cabinet
reshuffle yesterday, replacing several ministers in a move that many saw as
aimed more at salvaging his sliding popularity.
The changes were quickly criticised as
cosmetic by many observers, who also raised questions about whether some of the
ministers were a mismatch for their new portfolios.
Some underperformers and scandal-tainted names
were dropped, as expected, several professionals were added and ministers from
political parties removed, in what appeared to be an effort to soothe fears
that Dr Yudhoyono was accommodating coalition partners.
Investment board chief and former banker Gita
Wirjawan was appointed as the new trade minister, while Mr Dahlan Iskan, the
head of a state electricity firm, joined the Cabinet as state-owned enterprises
minister.
Both men have good track records as reformists
and are not linked to any political party.
"It aims at facilitating more
professionals, which can boost the effectiveness of the Cabinet," Dr
Yudhoyono told a press conference. "With the current global economic
situation, I want our trade to penetrate global markets."
He also said that economic factors greatly
influenced his choice of ministers and deputies whom he will be appointing
formally today, adding that he had picked or moved people whom he felt could
strengthen Indonesia's economy.
But while he stressed that the reshuffle was
meant to "improve the performance and effectiveness of the Cabinet",
some of the appointments raised eyebrows.
One of the most significant was the transfer
of former trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu - who had won kudos in her job - to
tourism and creative industries.
Under the seven-year tenure of the
internationally-respected Dr Mari, Indonesia's exports have posted strong
growth, while imports have also boomed.
The President explained that Dr Mari could do
for the country's creative economy what she had done for trade, but critics
questioned her experience in tourism.
Some also suggested that her move to a less
prominent ministry was due to clashes she had had with the agriculture and
fisheries ministers over imports hurting domestic industries.
In an opinion piece in the Jakarta Post,
political academic Donny Syofyan noted the impact of the clashes.
"Tensions between Dr Mari and Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad... have given the impression that
there is serious conflict among members of the Cabinet. This is clearly
stressful for Yudhoyono."
Another appointment that drew criticism was
that of former tourism minister Jero Wacik to the energy and mineral resources
portfolio.
"This is a big question mark," said
Professor Iberamsyah, who teaches political science at the University of
Indonesia. "Indonesia has a lot of experts on this sector, why put Jero
Wacik there? What kind of energy-related background does he have?"
He added: "There are so many
irregularities, many mismatches."
Many observers were less than impressed with
yesterday's changes, seeing them largely as a gesture made by a president
facing mounting pressure to address his sliding popularity.
"Most will see the drip-fed reshuffle for
what it is - change made to achieve certain internal political aims rather than
anything more ambitious," Mr James Bryson of fund management firm PT HB
Capital Indonesia told Reuters.
Last month, a poll by the Indonesian Survey
Circle recorded the lowest approval ratings for Dr Yudhoyono since he assumed
the presidency in 2009 after a landslide win. It came after a government audit
which assessed some ministers as underperforming.
The President's move to raise the number of
deputy ministers from 10 to 19 also drew criticism that it would lead to a
bloated government that could cut efficiency while increasing costs.
And while some ministers were dropped, as
expected, because they were seen as graft-tainted or underperforming, several
others were retained, to the surprise of some observers.
Many were expecting Sports and Youth Minister
Andi Mallarangeng and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar to
go after they were questioned by the anti-graft authorities over their
ministries' involvement in corruption scandals, but they kept their posts.
Critics say their survival suggests that they
are still regarded as part of Dr Yudhoyono's inner circle and are seen as
allies.
Prof Iberamsyah said: "What really stands
out is that those ministers with the most conspicuous problems are staying in.
This will be the heaviest burden for the Cabinet in the next three years, as
the administration will have to face the public, who would question the
integrity of the Cabinet."
Zubaidah Nazeer & Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja
The Straits Times
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