Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that political considerations could influence his decision to reshuffle the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, but it is not the main factor.

"The main factor is (the minister's) work performance. Political considerations is certainly (a factor), but not the main factor," Jokowi remarked after attending the Indonesian Solidarity Party's (PSI's) 8th anniversary commemoration event here, Tuesday (January 31).

The president emphasized that in general, the performance of each minister in the Onward Indonesia Cabinet is good.

"It is certain that specifically, there are (ministers) whose performance needs to be evaluated. A correction in our work journey is normal, anyway," he affirmed.

However, Jokowi steered clear of divulging the names of ministers whose works he believed should be evaluated.

While asked whether he would announce a new reshuffle on Wednesday, he appealed to the public to wait.

"Yes, just wait, tomorrow will be Wednesday Pon and the next day will be Thursday Wage," he stated while referring to the traditional Javanese calendar days.

It is public knowledge that the president would wait until Wednesday since Pon -- the third of the five-day week in the Javanese calendar system -- falls on that day.

He has frequently announced major decisions in his government, including cabinet reshuffles, on the days of Pon.

Reports that a new reshuffle to the Onward Indonesia Cabinet is imminent first blew up after some politicians of Jokowi's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), pressured the president to do so.

They believe the president must remove ministers provided by NasDem Party that have declared former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan as their presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.

Cabinet ministers originating from NasDem Party are Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate, and Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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