Jakarta, GIVnews.com – President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is reportedly seeking a new and strong economic minister, whom the market could trust. Early this week, when asked whether Sri Mulyani Indrawati was suitable for the position, the President reportedly just smiled, with no obvious reason.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati. (Photo source: Facebook)
Sri Mulyani, who served as Finance Minister under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from 2005 to 2010, is currently a World Bank managing director based in Washington DC, USA. As Finance Minister she was known as a tough reformist and highly instrumental in strengthening the Indonesian economy. She is also widely believed to have been successful in curbing corruption at the Finance Ministry and reforming Indonesia's tax and customs office. Forbes included Mulyani in its World's Most Powerful Women lists four times, in 2008 (23rd), 2009 (72nd), 2012 (72nd), and 2014 (38th). Mulyani assumed her post as a World Bank managing director in 2010.
It was reportedly Tony Prasetiantono who raised the name of Sri Mulyani to the President during a meeting at the State Palace last Monday (29 June 2015). Tony was among the eleven noted economists summoned by the President to his office at the Merdeka Palace to discuss the latest development of the Indonesian economy, the performance of his cabinet and the possible replacement or reassignment of cabinet ministers.
(Read more: Reshuffle Issue Prolonged after Economists' Visit to Presidential Palace)
According to Tony, who is a senior lecturer and a renowned op-ed writer, President Jokowi desperately wants highly qualified economic ministers who can do better than those currently in the 'Work Cabinet'. The President is also seeking a strong economic minister. And, describing what Jokowi really wanted, Tony said, "It is like playing football. Many are good players, but there is no play maker."
Tony further quoted the President as saying that "If we can find suitable people at this moment, I will inaugurate them right away."
Meanwhile, there is speculation that if Mulyani is willing to join Jokowi's reshuffled cabinet, she could be offered either her portfolio post of Finance Minister, or positioned as the Economic Coordinating Minister. Tempo weekly quoted a State Palace official as saying that Jokowi met twice with Sri Mulyani when she came to Jakarta as a World Bank official about three weeks ago. The President offered her the post of coordinating minister for the economy, according to the State Palace official who asked not be identified. However, Sri Mulyani did not reply Tempo's email enquiry regarding her meetings with Jokowi.
Interestingly, Sri Mulyani is said to have politely declined the President's offer. "She cited the matter of income and her concern that she would be a political problem if she joined the cabinet," the official said. If this is true, her remarks could imply that she could basically accept Jokowi's offer, shall it not cause any political complications. Last year, when Jokowi was selecting cabinet ministers, a group of parliament members reminded the President not to pick Sri Mulyani as minister.
Sri Mulyani, then as Minister of Finance, was alleged to have been involved in a crime that was related to the bailout of a medium scale Bank Century in 2008. However, recently the National Police declared that Sri Mulyani and Vice President Jusuf Kalla had not been involved in questionable buying and selling of state's condensate in 2009.
There are strong speculations that Jokowi will focus on economic ministerial posts when he reshuffles the cabinet. Based on speculations, such cabinet reshuffle may occur before or after the Idhul Fitri Holiday which falls on 17-18 July.
Source: Is Sri Mulyani Coming Back to Fix the Economy?
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