Politicians likely to dominate Yudhoyono's next Cabinet

Political analysts fear that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has interviewed 30 potential candidates to fill his next Cabinet as of Sunday, will pick many more politicians than professionals.

Nineteen out of the 30 candidates interviewed on Saturday and Sunday were politicians rather than professionals, which many observers have warned would make it harder for the new Cabinet to perform better than the previous one.

Yudhoyono said all candidates interviewed on Saturday and Sunday were to hold ministerial and non-ministerial posts.

“Pak Boediono and I can say that all the potential candidates we have interviewed so far have met the standards. But it’s not final yet,” he said on the sidelines of the Cabinet member selection.

Yudhoyono interviewed 14 ministerial candidates at his private residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Sunday.

Candidates included Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, University of Indonesia economist and Democratic Party member Darwin Saleh, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Mohamad S. Hidayat, scholar from Lambung Mangkurat University in South Kalimantan Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Prosperous and Justice Party’s (PKS) advisory board member Suharna Surapranata, and Indonesian Women Congress (Kowani) chairwoman Linda Amaliasari Gumelar.

In the second session in the afternoon, investment firm Ancora Capital owner Gita Wirjawan, Golkar Party member and state logistics firm Perum Bulog chief Mustafa Abubakar, National Awakening Party (PKB) politician Helmy Faishal Zaini, National Mandate Party (PAN) secretary-general Zulkifli Hasan, PAN politician Patrialis Akbar, the United Development Party (PPP) legislator Suharso Monoarfa, Democratic Party politicians EE Mangindaan, and physician Nila Juwita Anfasha Moeloek were interviewed.

On Saturday, Yudhoyono talked to 16 politicians and professionals believed to be part of his next Cabinet lineup.

Among them were former chief commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Marshall (ret.) Djoko Suyanto, State Secretary and PAN politician Hatta Radjasa, former Golkar legislator Agung Laksono, Tifatul Sembiring of the PKS, West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Democratic Party politician Syarif Hasan.

Political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) Siti Zuhroh said Yudhoyono was still “too kind” to his coalition parties in distributing Cabinet seats.

“Seat allocation between politicians, professionals and gender is still unbalanced. It will make it too difficult for the second 'rainbow' Cabinet to make a breakthrough in developing the country in the next five years,” Siti said.

“It will also be difficult for the next Cabinet to work effectively if professionalism is still neglected.”

Djoko, a Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University alumnus who will likely retain his post as the public works minister, said he was tasked with overcoming issues in infrastructure development, while Darwin said he was to hold a post related to economic growth, social welfare, and investments.

Backed by the Aburizal Bakrie-led Golkar Party and Kadin members, Hidayat said he was asked to join the government’s economic team in the industry or trade portfolio.

Gusti said Yudhoyono had asked him to help “overcome the impact of climate change and other environmental issues”, while Suharna was asked “to support economic development based on competitiveness and natural resources with the use of technology and science”.

Two women, Linda and Nila, were interviewed on Sunday. Linda said she was told to protect and
help empower women, while Nila was expected to help the country lower mother and children’s mortality rates.

Gita said he accepted a mandate to increase foreign and domestic investment, while Mustafa said he was tasked with helping “rejuvenate” ailing or loss-making state enterprises.

Zulkifli said he was asked to pay more attention to forest fires and help overcome overlapping spatial regulations among different government institutions.

Patrialis said he was asked to harmonize regulations among government institutions and help expedite government-proposed bills.

Political expert from University of Indonesia Lili Romli said "Yudhoyono should avoid giving strategic posts to figures from political parties"