Indonesia’s energy minister to be replaced in cabinet reshuffle: sources

By Wilda Asmarini and Kanupriya Kapoor

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s energy and mining minister Sudirman Said will be replaced as part of a cabinet reshuffle expected to be announced by President Joko Widodo on Wednesday, sources close to the minister told Reuters.

The president is expected to announce his second cabinet reshuffle in less than two years later on Wednesday, two other sources close to the matter told Reuters late Tuesday.

Asked whether Said would be replaced, a source, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said: “Yes, correct”.

A second source close to the minister confirmed that he would be part of the expected reshuffle.

Said could not be reached for comment, but said on Twitter late Tuesday: “The big job is over. Let’s never tire of loving Indonesia.”

It was not clear who else would be part of the reshuffle. Widodo met a number of his ministers late on Tuesday at the presidential palace in central Jakarta.

The reshuffle comes nearly a year after Widodo replaced key members of his economics team in an effort to boost investor confidence over a flagging economy.

A year on, analysts say this week’s reshuffle is likely to be politically motivated as Widodo seeks to consolidate support from parties that have been keen to join the ruling coalition.

“There is the need to acknowledge the support of parties like Golkar which have thrown their weight behind his government,” said Keith Loveard of Jakarta-based Concord Consulting, referring to Indonesia’s second biggest political party.

“Assuming his choices are good ones the public will accept this as part of fine-tuning and a normal part of the political process,” he added.

(Additional reporting by Cindy Silviana; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Richard Pullin)