Analysts caution of split in Cabinet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior military officer and a political
\nacademician warned on Tuesday of possible conflicts of interest
\nin the Cabinet, thanks to compromises President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nagreed to during the recruitment of ministers.<\/p>\n
Chief of Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi, Maj.
\nGen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, predicted the Cabinet would undergo
\nits toughest test of solidarity in 2003, when political parties
\ncontested the general elections.<\/p>\n
\"The way the Cabinet maintains its teamwork may only last for
\ntwo or three years because many ministers will be called up by
\ntheir respective parties to prepare for the elections,\" Agus said
\nin a discussion to evaluate President Abdurrahman's 50 days in
\noffice, organized by the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"This is a consequence of the June polls which did not produce
\nany political party with a majority share of votes. It will be
\nworse if the Cabinet members who come from different parties fail
\nto shake off their political attributes,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Shortly after his election as president, Abdurrahman formed a
\nso-called coalition Cabinet made up of ministers from parties
\nwhich finished among the top seven in the June general election
\nplus the Indonesian Military.<\/p>\n
A crack was evident when Abdurrahman announced twice that
\nthree of his 35 Cabinet ministers would quit for alleged
\ncorruption. Hamzah Haz, the coordinating minister for people's
\nwelfare and poverty eradication, resigned last month, but both he
\nand Abdurrahman denied that corruption was the cause of the
\ndeparture.<\/p>\n
Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid has also threatened
\nto resign if calls for regional autonomy were not properly
\naddressed.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman
\nAkbar Tandjung reiterated on Tuesday his demand that Abdurrahman
\ndisclose the names of the ministers. His remarks were feared to
\nspark suspicion in the Cabinet, according to Akbar.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the seminar, political analyst Eep
\nSyaefulloh Fatah, said early friction in the Cabinet was a result
\nof Abdurrahman's preference for disregarding professional
\nconsideration when recruiting the ministers.<\/p>\n
\"Abdurrahman Wahid tends to base his choices on cronyism,
\nrather than professionalism and competence,\" said Eep, who is a
\nlecturer at the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
State officials in the Cabinet under Abdurrahman, better known
\nas Gus Dur, also failed to work as a team, Eep added.<\/p>\n
\"The facts on the ground unveil that many departments are not
\nworking at all as they are still waiting for their ministers, who
\nare supposed to determine new policies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also criticized the President for keeping himself busy
\nserving popular issues instead of addressing the basic problems
\nof the nation.<\/p>\n
Apart from the threats, both speakers agreed that the Cabinet
\nfaced heavy burdens in economic, social and political aspects.
\n(emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analysts-caution-of-split-in-cabinet-1447893297",
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