Losing Office in the Heat of Battle

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - “My focus is no longer here.” The words came slowly, bringing to an abrupt end a meeting between Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo and the House of Representatives Budget Committee on June 12, 2001. That day, as lawmakers wrangled over revisions to the State Budget, President Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, suddenly reshuffled the National Unity Cabinet. Prijadi was ousted. His post went to Rizal Ramli, who had previously served as Coordinating Minister for the Economy.The news of his dismissal had not reached Prijadi beforehand—not from anyone at the Presidential Palace or from officials at the Finance Department. He learned he was out of a job only after a lawmaker interrupted the meeting to announce that Gus Dur had just unveiled the cabinet reshuffle at the State Palace. Prijadi was stunned.