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Jakarta. Members of the ruling coalition have given mixed responses to a Democratic Party official’s claim that a cabinet reshuffle is on the cards.

Achmad Mubarok, a member of the Democrats’ advisory board, said on Monday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would likely have a reshuffle early next year.

However, he said it was routine and did not necessarily reflect the state of relations between the president’s Democrats and the other coalition parties.

On Wednesday, Priyo Budi Santoso, a senior Golkar official and Deputy House Speaker, said reshuffling the cabinet was the president’s right. “Golkar won’t interfere in it and we won’t suggest anything about it,” he said.

However, fellow Deputy House Speaker Anis Matta, from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said his party was against a reshuffle, which he said “isn’t a solution for any of the problems facing the country.”

“What we really need to change is the nation’s leadership, which is where all the problems get tied up,” he said. “If the leadership was good, the problems wouldn’t be so bad.”

He also said that talk of a reshuffle would create anxiety among cabinet members and affect their performance.

Rather than call for a reshuffle, the president should order the ministers to pay more attention to their current jobs. “It would be more productive if they concentrated on their tasks rather than having to worry about a reshuffle,” Anis said.

Meanwhile, Bima Arya Sugiharto, of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said his party would “bow to the president’s wishes.”

As a coalition partner PAN would back the reshuffle as long as it was discussed beforehand.

Bima also said PAN would not try to seek more seats from the reshuffle, saying: “We were always in it simply to support the government.”

Another Islamic-based coalition partner, the United Development Party (PPP), also said it would not object.

“The PPP is in a situation now where we have nothing to lose when it comes to a reshuffle,” party official Lukman Hakim Saefuddin said.

“If our best members currently serving in the cabinet are still there afterward, we’ll be grateful. If not, then that’s fine too.”

However, Lukman said there should be “a strong reason” for the president calling a reshuffle.

“We believe the cabinet as it currently stands is heading down the right track, despite some weaknesses on certain issues,” he said.

The secretary general of the opposition Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra), Ahmad Muzani, said a reshuffle was warranted because of the cabinet’s “poor performance.”

The PPP members of the cabinet are Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Public Housing Minister Soeharso Manoarfa.

The PAN has Hatta Radjasa, the coordinating minister for the economy, and Patrialis Akbar, the justice and human rights minister.

Meanwhile, Golkar is represented by Agung Laksono, the coordinating minister for people’s welfare, and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto.

The PKS has Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Agriculture Minister Suswono and Social Service Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri.

The rest of the cabinet posts are held by Democrats and technocrats.