President quietly forms new cabinet team
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja to become new Minister of Mines and Energy
Tuesday, August 15 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
President Abdurrahman Wahid has quietly formed his new cabinet team without a consultation with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, according to the weekly Tempo magazine in its latest edition.
Quoting its sources, Tempo said that the President discussed the new Cabinet with Susilo B. Yudhoyono (currently the Minister of Mines and Energy), Erna Witoelar (Housing Minister), and Ryass Rasyid (Minister for Regional Autonomy).
Erna confirmed that she had been involved in the restructuring process of the Cabinet but said that she wasn't involved in selecting the names.
Erna added that the new Cabinet team was not yet final because Abdurrahman would only make the final decision after discussing it with Megawati.
Sources, however, said that there would not be much changes because Megawati has tended to follow what Abdurrahman decides.
Under the new preliminary Cabinet team, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja has been named as the new Minister of Mines and Energy. Sarwono is currently the Minister of Maritime.
Meanwhile Susilo Yudhoyono will be come the new Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, and the People's Welfare. (*)