Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should reshuffle his cabinet as 10 ministers of his Cabinet were graded with poor performance in the first 100-days of his second presidency, a political observer said Wednesday.

Boni Hargens of the University of Indonesia said among the ten ministers with bad grades were Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Information and Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar and State Administrative Reforms Minister Evert Ernest Mangindaan.

"The assessment of those ministers was based on three indicators; leadership quality and managerial capability; problem solving and carrying out strategic programs," Boni told a discussion held by Batuputih Trans Syndicate.

"The ministers' poor performance was not based on their quality and capability, but on their political compromises and interests."

Boni also handed a poor grade to Vice President Boediono saying the former Bank Indonesia governor had done nothing except attempt to save himself from the controversial Bank Century bailout worth about Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million).

Also at the discussion were Indra Jaya Piliang of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and Budiman Sujatmiko of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Indra agreed with Boni saying the performance of several ministers was not satisfactory and it appeared they did not understand their duties.

"Some ministers are not being responsible," he said. "Failing to realize their 100-day work programs is unsatisfactory," he said of the ministers. "There is almost no strategic program to improve the nation."

Indra said naming Hatta Rajasa, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PAN), as coordinating economic minister was biased. "Every decision or policy will be questioned as to whether it's in the interest of the country or the party," he said of the position being handed to the party chairman.

While supporting the idea of a Cabinet reshuffle, Indra said it should not be undertaken after the 100-day period. He said it should take place after the first six months.

The discussion also touched on bureaucratic reform issues with Budiman suggesting the bureaucracy be separated from the government. "If we don't separate the bureaucracy from the government, the President will fail," he said.

"Bureaucratic reform is needed because bureaucracy and the government are two different institutions. Bureaucracy is only answerable to the law, not to the government."

Budiman said bureaucracy could criticize or even boycott government policy. "People in the bureaucracy should be professionals, and not be involved with political parties," he said.