Anas said although his party lost one position in the newly reshuffled cabinet, it was not a problem because the issue was not about allocation of cadres as under the presidential system, reshuffling the cabinet was the president`s prerogative.
Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - Ruling Democrat Party Chief Anas Urbaningrum said the party was satisfied with the results of the cabinet reshuffle carried out by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"For the Democrat Party, the final decisions on the cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of a number of new ministers are satisfactory and has created peace of mind," he said on the sidelines of a meeting of the East Java chapter of the Democrat Party here on Wednesday.

He said although his party lost one position in the newly reshuffled cabinet, it was not a problem because the issue was not about allocation of cadres as under the presidential system, reshuffling the cabinet was the president`s prerogative.

"The Democrat Party respects that. Moreover, the allocation factor is worth less than the willingness to assist the President," he said.

Anas said what mattered now was that the new as well as old ministers must work all-out to help the president create a solid state loved by the people.

Regarding the appointment of more deputy ministers in the cabinet, Anas said it was alright for the sake of national development and the people`s welfare.

"The decision must have been made based on profound considerations and nobody has been hurt by it," he said.

On allegations that their appointment would increase the state`s expenditures, Anas said "I do not think so. What is important is that they must be able to make their ministries perform better."

Regarding the coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) he said there had been no problem, either before or after the cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday, October 18.

"Since the beginning we have been going along well with them and hopefully (the cooperation with PKS) will continue until 2014," he said.

Golkar Party chief Aburizal Bakrie meanwhile said his party respected President Yudhoyono`s cabinet reshuffle.

"We respect President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s decisions," he said before opening a photo exhibition at the Golkar Party headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Asked whether the removal of Golkar cadre Fadel Muhammad from the cabinet was due to an internal party conflict , Aburizal said there had been no problem in the party. It was previously rumored that Agung Laksono, a Golkar executive in the post of coordinating minister for people`s welfare, would be replaced in the reshuffle.

"No, there was no internal conflict," he said, adding Fadel was dropped from the cabinet with his approval.

The associate chairman of opposition People`s Conscience Party (Hanura), Yuddy Chrisnandi, meanwhile said the resguffle should have removed ministers who were implicated in corruption cases.

"Actually what the people had expected from the reshuffle was the dismissal of ministers believed to be involved in corruption," he said at a news conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Yudi said if the president had done that he would have recovered the public`s trust.

To Hanura, the cabinet reshuffle was a matter that only concerned President Yudhoyono and the parties in the government coalition. It did not affect the life of the people, he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011