Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) needs to conduct a cabinet reshuffle in order to realize his nine priority programs known as "Nawacita", according to an economic observer at the University of Indonesia Rizal E. Halim.
"The main consideration to be used as a benchmark in the cabinet reshuffle is competence, capacity, and real track record rather than position sharing," Halim remarked here on Wednesday.
He noted that a cabinet reshuffle was necessary as even after working for over a year, some of the cabinet ministers were yet to deliver a concrete performance in accordance with the Nawacita.
According to Halim, the substandard performance of some ministers is posing a hindrance to realizing the numerous promises made by President Jokowi, especially those associated with various development agenda outlined in the Nawacita.
By the end of 2015, the cabinet reshuffle became a hot public debate, but President Jokowi chose to stay mum on the issue.
Minister for State Enterprises (BUMN) Rini Mariani Soemarno is one of the ministers to be replaced if the rumors were true.
Rumors linked to Rini's dismissal grew stronger after the Parliament Special Committee (Pansus) on state port operator Pelindo II recommended her removal.
Ironically, the ruling party the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) was stronger and even more aggressive than the opposition parties in seeking to intervene with the prerogative right of the president.
The Pansus was chaired by Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a lawmaker from the PDIP.
Rini was brief in her comment on her possible ousting from the cabinet saying "it is up to President Jokowi."
However, the minister, who was present at the BUMN synergy signing ceremony in Surabaya on Dec. 22, 2015, expressed her discontent on Pansus recommending her dismissal.
"I seek everyone's blessings that I could always serve the people," she told several BUMN leaders, sugar farmers, and other invitees.
As for the legal case faced by R.J. Lino, Rini was similarly brief in her reply, saying "we leave it to the law."
Earlier, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had named Lino a suspect in a corruption case over the procurement of the Quay Container Crane in 2010.
KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati noted that investigators of the anti-graft body had found sufficient evidence to charge Lino and name him a suspect.
A political observer from the Lampung FISIP University Arizka Warganegara advised President Jokowi to not bow down to political pressure in reaching a decision on the cabinet reshuffle.
Arizka said political motivation is evident and strong in the recommendation for a cabinet reshuffle.
Several political parties have shown strong interest in a cabinet reshuffle, he noted.
At the same time, he also urged the president to be firm in dealing with some of the ministers who have conducted themselves as outsiders and have undermined the authority of the president. (WDY)
