Indonesia: New Cabinet Line-Up

Below is the new cabinet line-up announced Monday night in Yogyakarta by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. The decision was made after a limited cabinet meeting led by SBY and attended by VP Kalla with some ministers.

1) Coordinating minister for Economy: Dr Boediono (professional, former minister of finance). He is expected to bring back the macroeconomy stability to the country hurt by high inflation rate. Economist from Gajah Mada University Dr Sri Adiningsih optimistic Boediono would be able to deliver people's high hopes on him to revive the economy saying Indonesia's current situation is a lot better than in 2001 when Boediono was appointed minister of finance.

2) Coordinating minister for People's Welfare: Aburizal Bakrie (Golkar Party, led Bakrie Group, a diversified business).

3) Minister of Finance: Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati (former minister of national development planning, professional)

4) Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of Bappenas: Paskah Suzetta (chairman of the House Commission IX from Golkar Party). Paskah established two companies, PT Perisai Daya Usaha (property) and PT Perisai Daya Cipta (trading). He is a property businessman with various housing projects in West Java cities such as Bandung, Cibinong, and Padalarang. He is also president commissioner of Triniti Group (property business).

5) Minister of Industry: Fahmi Idris (former minister of manpower, Golkar Party). He is the owner of Kodel Group, one of biggest debtors to Indonesia Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). Born in Jakarta, on 20^th September 1943, Fahmi failed to graduate from the University of Indonesia, majoring in economics. He was the deputy chairman of the Golkar Party. Fahmi was a student activist before becoming involved in politics. He started his political career as the chairman of the Golkar Party's Business and Economic Enterprise Department (1993-1998). He was manpower and transmigration minister in the Habibie administration. He was dismissed as the deputy chairman of Golkar during November 2004 for defying the party's order to support the reelection bid of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

6) Minister of Manpower: Erman Suparno (Chairman of House Commission V from PKB). Erman is on old buddy of vice president Jusuf Kalla and deputy speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Aksa Mahmud since 1970s when Erman was chief of South Sulawesi branch of PT Pembangunan Perumahan.Graduated from Newport University, California, Erman was president director of PT PP Tasei Indonesia Construction.

Ousted ministers:
1) Alwi Shihab (PKB, to be appointed as special envoy and advisor for president on Middle East, Islamic Conference Organization, and Islamic Development Bank)
2) Jusuf Anwar (Professional, to be appointed as ambassador, most likely to Japan)
3) Andung Nitimihardja (professional)

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