Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid had long distrusted three of the four Cabinet ministers he sacked yesterday, regarding them as potential "traitors" to his government, one of his close family members said.

The source told The Straits Times recently that Mr Abdurrahman had been questioning the loyalty of Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman, Sea Exploration and Fishery Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, and Junior Minister for Economic Restructuring Cacuk Sudarijanto. Their replacement was just a matter of time, the source said.

The move reflected the sense of paranoia that has been plaguing the President, and explains why the inner-circle has constantly changed in Mr Abdurrahman's 20-month presidency.

Coordinating Minister for Politics, Social and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was also replaced with Transportation and Telecommunication Minister Agum Gumelar at yesterday's reshuffle – the second one since Mr Abdurrahman formed the Cabinet in October 1999.

At the same time, two of the President's most-trusted ministers – Justice and Human Rights Minister Baharudin Lopa, and Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak were promoted. Mr Marsilam took over from Mr Baharudin who was appointed as the new AG.

The two ministers have reportedly been giving Mr Abdurrahman justifications for his plan to impose martial law as part of his last-ditch attempt to survive his embattled presidency.

The family source told The Straits Times that the President had several times tried to sack Mr Marzuki because he suspected the A-G of forming an alliance with Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who appears set to take over the presidency. "Marzuki has been cozying up with Megawati, she was really the reason why Gus Dur could not fire him," the source said at the time.

Mr Marzuki is an executive for the Golkar Party, an opposition party that has been very critical of Mr Abdurrahman. But Mr Marzuki was the only Cabinet member, other than Mr Marsilam, who stood by the President at a press conference early this week when Mr Abdurrahman announced his latest security move.

Of Mr Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, the source said: "He has always been an opportunist." Mr Sarwono was a minister in former President Suharto's Cabinet. As a Golkar member, he was one of the first politicians who was critical of Mr Suharto during the last days of his administration.

Mr Cacuk, a former ally of Mr Abdurrahman, has had differences with him over policies since last year. Said The Straits Times source: "The President did not like the way Mr Cacuk turned out." Mr Abdurrahman yesterday appointed two unknown career bureaucrats to replace Mr Agum Gumelar and Mr Sarwono.

The new Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication, Mr Budhi Mulyawan Suripno, is currently an expert staff in the ministry. Mr Rochmin Dahuri, the Director-General of Coastal Areas, Beaches, and Small Islands was appointed the Minister of Sea Exploration and Fishery.