Susilo may replace chief economic minister: Media

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday in Medan, North Sumatra, that he had included a respected former finance minister to replace the chief economic minister in a cabinet reshuffle plan aimed at boosting the country 's economic performance, the Jakarta Post said on Saturday.

Susilo said he had asked Budiono, who was former president Megawati Soekarnoputri's finance minister, to help him "rearrange" his economic team, whose performance has been heavily criticized by analysts.

Speaking at a press briefing in the North Sumatra capital of Medan, Susilo told reporters that the retired Budiono had agreed to join the team despite initial reluctance.

"After I evaluated the performance of my government which I have led for one year, I am of the opinion that a reorganization should be made, especially for the economic team of my cabinet," Susilo said.

Susilo's government came to power in October 2004.

"Why do we want to reshuffle the cabinet? Because we want everything to be well-managed, both macroeconomic and microeconomic aspects," he said.

Susilo said he had asked Budiono to become a minister in his cabinet during a recent meeting in Jakarta. He did not say whether he would be replacing another cabinet member.

"That meeting indeed had to do with the plan of a limited reshuffle," said Susilo, who worked alongside Budiono as top security minister under Megawati.

Susilo, who has won praise from Western governments for cracking down on terrorists and reaching a peace accord with rebels in tsunami-ravaged Aceh, has not delivered on some election pledges, according to opposition leaders including Emir Moeis, chairman of parliament's budget committee and a member of the nation's biggest opposition party.

Indonesia's economic growth rate slowed to 5.3 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, after gaining 5.8 percent in the previous quarter and 6.1 percent in the first three months of the year. The government has targeted average economic growth of 6. 6 percent in the next five years.

Source: Xinhua