It was a highly anticipated switch of alliance in Indonesia that would significantly shift the balance of power in South-east Asia’s largest nation.

Yet, the opposition Golkar party’s much-touted move to back the Joko Widodo government – thereby boosting the President’s reform agenda – almost did not materialise.

This even though it was widely expected that Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie would make the announcement at the close of the party’s three-day leaders’ conference which started on Saturday.

… Associate Professor Leonard Sebastian, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, believes Mr Bakrie is positioning Golkar to take advantage of a possible Cabinet reshuffle, which has been on the cards for months.

“The rumours are that there could be a reshuffle at the end of the month and Ical is aware that Jokowi needs Golkar support to push through his policy agenda and balance against the PDI-P in the DPR,” he said. “If bringing Golkar into Jokowi’s coalition results in gains for the party in terms of Cabinet positions or other material benefits, then Ical can further consolidate his position in Golkar.”