Bagus BT Saragih and Elly Burhaini Faizal, Bogor/Jakarta – Andi Mallarangeng escaped firing on Wednesday, as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced a minor Cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of several top officials.

The youth and sports minister was thought a likely candidate for the ax after he was implicated in the high-profile corruption case surrounding the construction of the Hambalang sports complex.

Andi is also one of several Democratic politicians widely slammed within the party for tarnishing its image. The Cabinet's three ministers from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) also escaped the chopping block in what observers said was a likely attempt to keep the President's ruling coalition intact.

The ministers were retained despite the repeated defections of PKS lawmakers from the coalition's line during critical votes in the House.

Yudhoyono said he appointed former attorney general Hendarman Supandji, who is also the First Lady's childhood friend, to replace Joyo Winoto as the head of the National Land Agency (BPN).

To fill the vacancy created by the death of Endang Rahayu Sedya-ningsih, Yudhoyono appointed National AIDS Commission (KPA) secretary Nafsiah Mboi as health minister.

The President also appointed upstream oil and gas authority BPMigas' operations chief Rudi Rubiandini as the Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister – a position left vacant after the death of Widjajono Partowidagdo on April 21.

National Economic Committee (KEN) deputy chairman M. Chatib Basri, meanwhile, was appointed head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Chatib's predecessor, Gita Wirjawan, is currently trade minister.

Yudhoyono said he appointed Hendarman to lead the BPN so the senior prosecutor could bring his expertise in solving land-acquisition disputes. "I found Hendarman suitable to fill the post to settle legal problems in the sector."

Hendarman faces a tough challenge. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named BPN the least-transparent government institution with the worst record in fighting corruption. Joyo, the BPN's outgoing chief, has been accused of accepting bribes in connection with the Hambalang case.

Hendarman's tenure as attorney general came to an abrupt halt last year, after the Constitutional Court ruled that the Presidential Decree on his appointment was unconstitutional. Critics, meanwhile, previously said that his performance in combating graft as Attorney General was lackluster.

Political analyst Indria Samego questioned Yudhoyono's decision to appoint Hendarman as BPN chairman. "He did not really excel as the attorney general. I wonder if Hendarman will be able to solve problems currently plaguing the agency," he said.

Also raising concern was the appointment of the incoming health minister, Nafsiah, who at 72 may no longer be in her prime, despite an outstanding performance at the National AIDS Commission. Interim Health Minister Ali Ghufron Mukti, however, disagreed, saying that Nafsiah's experience would prove a boon.

"The President has chosen Nafsiah, a woman with extensive experience in dealing with health-related problems With her experience, I'm sure she can really take us in the right – and more positive – direction," Ali said. (tas)

Hendarman Supandji

Born: Klaten, Central Java, Jan. 6, 1947

Education: 1972 Law school at Diponegoro University in Semarang, C. Java

Career:

• April 2005 - May 2007 Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes
• 2007 - September 2010 Attorney General Officer
• 2012 The National Land Agency (BPN) Head

Rudi Rubiandini

Born: Tasikmalaya, West Java, Feb. 9,1962

Education:

• 1985 Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
• 1991 Technische Universitaet Clausthal in Germany, specializing in petroleum engineering

Career:

• 2009 Adviser to the BPMigas chief
• 2011 the operational deputy of the country's upstream oil and gas authority BPMigas
• 2012 Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister

M. Chatib Basri

Born: Jakarta, Aug. 22, 1965

Education:

• 1992 Bachelor's Degree from University of Indonesia (UI)
• 1996 Master of Economic Development from Australian National University
• 2001 PhD from Australian National University

Career:

• Lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics
• 2001 Associate Director for Research LPEM UI
• In January 2012, appointed as a member of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) selection committee
• In November 2010, Axiata Group Berhard of Malaysia, appointed Chatib Basri as the business group's independent non-executive director.
• May 20, 2010 - present Deputy Chairman of The National Economic Committee (KEN)
• 2012 chairman of BKPM

Nafsiah Mboi

Born: Sengkang, South Sulawesi, July 14, 1940

Education:

• 1964 University of Indonesia (UI) in school of medicine,
• 1990 Master of public health (MPH) from Antwerpen University, Belgium

Career:

• 1982-1987 Member of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
• 1997-1999 Head of the UN Committee on The Rights of the Child (She is the first Asian to take the post)
• 1999-2002 Director of Gender and Women's Health at the WHO in Geneva
• 2003-2006 Member of The National Commission on Violence Against Women
• 2006 The National AIDS Commission (KPA)'s secretary-general
• 2012 Health Minister

Award

• 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service