Jakarta, NU Online
The cabinet reshuffle has taken too long and jeopardized the work and private lives of the affected ministers, an outgoing minister said Sunday.
"Actually a cabinet reshuffle is just a normal process which also takes place elsewhere," outgoing State Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saifullah "Gus Ipul" Yusuf told the Antara news agency while collecting his personal belongings at the ministry office.<>
"We were left in limbo too long so there were so many delays and much uncertainty in our activities."
Saifullah said even his fifth-grade daughter, Selma Halida, was asked whether her father would be ousted from the cabinet.
The minister said he had nothing personal against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I will still help the President although I am outside the system."
Saifullah said he was relieved that his fate was finally clear.
"I have been told by Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi that I was replaced not because of my poor performance but simply because I am no longer considered as a political party representative," he said.
As reported by The Jakarta Post, Saifullah changed his allegiance from the National Awakening Party (PKB) to the United Development Party (PPP) recently, prompting the PKB to demand his replacement.
It is believed that PKB secretary general Lukman Edy will replace Saifullah.
While Saifullah took the reshuffle calmly, PPP secretary general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said it meant that the President was not objective.
"A reshuffle should be based on performance and not because of political pressures or vested interests," he told Antara.
"Saifullah is a good minister. Why is he being replaced?"
The PPP retains its two other ministers in the cabinet, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadharma Ali and Social Services Minister Bachtiar Chamysah.
Also packing their office Sunday was outgoing State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto.
Sugiharto was named during a meeting of several factions at the House of Representatives last Wednesday. The lawmakers urged the President to replace Sugiharto due to his poor performance and weak coordination.
Executives from the Workers' Unions Federation at State-Owned Enterprises said they were happy to Sugiharto dismissed and planned a party Tuesday to celebrate.
"Sugiharto should be ousted because he brought more problems instead of improving state-owned enterprises," federation chairman FX Arief Poyuono told a press conference, as quoted by Detik.com news portal.
Information and Communications Minister Sofyan Djalil is believed likely to replace Sugiharto.
Other ministers being replaced are Home Affairs Minister M. Ma'aruf, Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin and State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
Unexpected was the replacement of Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh by Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes Hendarman Supandji.
Commenting on Yusril's departure, chairman of the Star Crescent Party (PBB) Malam Sambat Kaban said the President had a better plan for Yusril, founder and former chairman of the PBB.
It was reported that Yusril had been offered an ambassadorial post in Malaysia which is currently vacant, but the offer was rejected. (dar)
The cabinet reshuffle has taken too long and jeopardized the work and private lives of the affected ministers, an outgoing minister said Sunday.
"Actually a cabinet reshuffle is just a normal process which also takes place elsewhere," outgoing State Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions Saifullah "Gus Ipul" Yusuf told the Antara news agency while collecting his personal belongings at the ministry office.<>
"We were left in limbo too long so there were so many delays and much uncertainty in our activities."
Saifullah said even his fifth-grade daughter, Selma Halida, was asked whether her father would be ousted from the cabinet.
The minister said he had nothing personal against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I will still help the President although I am outside the system."
Saifullah said he was relieved that his fate was finally clear.
"I have been told by Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi that I was replaced not because of my poor performance but simply because I am no longer considered as a political party representative," he said.
As reported by The Jakarta Post, Saifullah changed his allegiance from the National Awakening Party (PKB) to the United Development Party (PPP) recently, prompting the PKB to demand his replacement.
It is believed that PKB secretary general Lukman Edy will replace Saifullah.
While Saifullah took the reshuffle calmly, PPP secretary general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said it meant that the President was not objective.
"A reshuffle should be based on performance and not because of political pressures or vested interests," he told Antara.
"Saifullah is a good minister. Why is he being replaced?"
The PPP retains its two other ministers in the cabinet, State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadharma Ali and Social Services Minister Bachtiar Chamysah.
Also packing their office Sunday was outgoing State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto.
Sugiharto was named during a meeting of several factions at the House of Representatives last Wednesday. The lawmakers urged the President to replace Sugiharto due to his poor performance and weak coordination.
Executives from the Workers' Unions Federation at State-Owned Enterprises said they were happy to Sugiharto dismissed and planned a party Tuesday to celebrate.
"Sugiharto should be ousted because he brought more problems instead of improving state-owned enterprises," federation chairman FX Arief Poyuono told a press conference, as quoted by Detik.com news portal.
Information and Communications Minister Sofyan Djalil is believed likely to replace Sugiharto.
Other ministers being replaced are Home Affairs Minister M. Ma'aruf, Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin and State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
Unexpected was the replacement of Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh by Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes Hendarman Supandji.
Commenting on Yusril's departure, chairman of the Star Crescent Party (PBB) Malam Sambat Kaban said the President had a better plan for Yusril, founder and former chairman of the PBB.
It was reported that Yusril had been offered an ambassadorial post in Malaysia which is currently vacant, but the offer was rejected. (dar)
