Febriamy Hutapea & April Aswadi – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday announced the lineup of his new cabinet, with only one last-minute change and the only surprise being that it was announced on time.
His 34-seat cabinet combined old and new faces, professionals, political appointees, former lawmakers and retired military officials from the previous administration. With the exception of one name, the president's choices fell within expectations.
About 70 percent of the cabinet were new faces, including Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, currently the governor of West Sumatra; Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, currently the country's permanent representative to the United Nations; and State Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar, the current head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
The only surprise on the list was Health Minister Endang Rahayu Setianingsih, a career health official. Nila Anfasa Moeloek was expected to get the health post.
"It's almost certain that my choices will spark public debate," Yudhoyono said before naming his ministers. "There will be those who will not be satisfied and I view this as normal. That also happened in 2004, but that's the beauty of democracy."
When making the announcement on schedule at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, Yudhoyono said he and Vice President Boediono had chosen the cabinet in a "rational and objective" manner. "It would be impossible for me to decide carelessly," he said.
All three coordinating ministries now have new heads. Former State Secretary Hatta Rajasa was appointed coordinating minister for the economy; Agung Laksono, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, was selected to head the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare; and former military chief Air Marshal (ret.) Djoko Suyanto became the coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs.
On the economic front, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu retained their posts, while Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman MS Hidayat will head the Industry Ministry. Academic Armida Alisjahbana, meanwhile, was selected to head the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).
Two other ministers kept their portfolios: Minister of Public Works Djoko Kirmanto and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.
Five other officials, meanwhile, stayed in the cabinet but were given different portfolios.
Former Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro was named defense minister, Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh gets the education portfolio and Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Freddy Numberi will oversea transportation. The cabinet will be inaugurated today.