Wahid Names a New Cabinet in Indonesia

Heavily criticized for not solving Indonesia’s crises, President Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday announced a streamlined Cabinet that he promised would be more professional.

The 26-member lineup replaces a 35-person team that had been roundly attacked for infighting, political rivalries and incompetence.

Wahid emphasized that the group would be result-oriented. Even so, 18 members are holdovers from the previous lineup.

Of most concern was the appointment to the Finance Ministry of Priyadi Prapto Suharso, who this year was blocked from heading a state-owned bank after he was judged unsuitable by regulators.

“This is a crony Cabinet,” said outgoing Finance Minister Bambang Sudibyo.

Wahid appointed two powerful coordinating ministers: retired army Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took responsibility for political and security affairs, and Rizal Ramli, a reformist and anti-corruption campaigner who was named chief economics minister.

Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, a close Wahid aide, kept his job.

Significantly, the Defense Ministry remained in civilian hands and went to Mahfud M. D., a little-known college professor.

However, three key ministries, including those covering the telecommunications and industrial sectors, went to former army generals.

The new Cabinet, to be sworn in Saturday, consists of two senior coordinating ministers, 16 ministers who will administer government departments, five state ministers and three junior ministers.