Wimar's take on the SBY cabinet reshuffle

It is not crucially important to analyze the SBY Cabinetr Reshuffle. After all, it is his prerogative and the proof should be in the pudding. Better to follow the actions by the new team. But still, the media wants people to say something. So here are some of Wimar's comments on the matter.

VOICE OF AMERICA

Political commentator Wimar Witoelar says, because of this arrangement, the president appointed some rival party members in the cabinet who worked to undermine his agenda.

"People who are using the cabinet position for political ends. People who are subverting the government policies for party gain.  And, people who are just not performing. So as I see it, three shortcomings, various cabinet ministers have in different measures is ineffectiveness, disloyalty, and hidden agenda."

The new cabinet still includes members of other parties.  The Golkar party, which holds significant power in the house of representative, retains three cabinet positions.  But the new heads of the strategically important ministries of State Owned Enterprises, Energy, Trade, Law and Human Rights all come from the president's Democratic party.  

Also important, Witoelar says, was the change the president did not make, despite pressure from Golkar party chairman and businessman Aburizal Bakrie.

"For me the most significant non-change is for the Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo to remain in place, despite heavy pressure and almost blackmail the most powerful politician businessman in the country and the president did not give in," noted Witoelar.

Witoelar says sound fiscal policy has been the cornerstone of Yudhoyono's tenure, which helps maintain investor confidence and strong economic growth

Radio Australia

Indonesia's embattled Finance Minister has survived a cabinet reshuffle that saw seven of his colleagues replaced. A prominent Indonesian commentator says while there are no radical changes, the finance minister, who had a reputation for agitating some of Indonesia's top business identities, has kept his portfolio. "The most significant part of the reshuffle - which is what did not change - is having the finance minister stay in his position when he had been under severe pressure to be removed," Wimar Witoelar said.

ANd here in Indonesian is another quote from Wimar

Pedoman News

Menanggapi masa kepemimpinan Presiden RI, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) yang tinggal dua tahun lagi, Wimar Witoelar, mengajak masyarakat agar tak perlu menanggapi apa yang dilakukan para pemimpin negeri ini.

“Dia tinggal dua tahun lagi jadi tidak usah ditanggapi,“ ujarnya ketika menghadiri peluncuran sebuah majalah di Puri Agung, Hotel Grand Sahid Jakarta, Selasa (18/10).

Mantan juru bicara Istana era Presiden Abdurahman Wahid, Wimar Witoelar, mengatakan bahwa dirinya akan mendukung semua partai yang ada di negara Indonesia asalkan partai itu mengusung kejujuran, tegas dan mampu.

“Saya mendukung semua partai yang jujur, tegas dan mampu,“ ujarnya.