Cabinet room deserted for campaign season<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Since the start of the 22-day election campaign on March 11, the
\nCabinet has gone into virtual hibernation, with President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz and a number of
\nsenior ministers devoting most of their energies to pressing the
\nflesh.<\/p>\n
Both the presidential and vice presidential offices are now
\nrarely visited by their occupants, even when they are actually in
\nthe capital. Apparently, campaigning takes precedence over the
\naffairs of state.<\/p>\n
\"We are unable to get any new regulations out as we cannot
\nhold Cabinet meetings due to the absence of most ministers,\" one
\nsenior official at the state secretariat told The Jakarta Post on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The State Palace and the State Secretariat, which is located
\nnext to the palace, have been eerily quiet of late. State\/Cabinet
\nSecretary Bambang Kesowo, who usually arrives very early at his
\noffice, was seen entering the complex around noon.<\/p>\n
\"There's not much to do as the President is not around,\" one
\nof his staffers told the Post.<\/p>\n
The finalization of many regulations and bills has been put on
\nhold due to the election campaign, including a proposed
\ngovernment regulation in lieu of law on illegal logging, the
\namendment of the regional autonomy law and a final decision on
\nKampar regent Jefri Noer's possible dismissal.<\/p>\n
A Cabinet meeting is needed to make the final decisions on
\nthese issues. However, as many Cabinet members are on the
\ncampaign trial, the discussions have had to be postponed.<\/p>\n
As the Cabinet members came from different political parties,
\nthe government is required to allow them to campaign for their
\nrespective parties.<\/p>\n
As provided for by Government Regulation No. 19\/2004 on
\ncampaigning by state officials and officeholders, the President
\nand Vice President are entitled to take 10 days of leave for
\ncampaigning purposes.<\/p>\n
Megawati is the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI-P), while Hamzah is the chairman of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Although they are supposed to be taking turns on leave, both
\nof them are normally away from their offices. Only one Cabinet
\nmeeting was chaired by Megawati last week -- a limited Cabinet
\nmeeting to review the regional autonomy law.<\/p>\n
Hamzah was in his office on Wednesday, receiving guests, but
\nthis was a rare appearance at work for the Vice President.<\/p>\n
Aside from the President and Vice President, nine ministers
\nare also currently campaigning for their respective political
\nparties.<\/p>\n
\"I've always questioned the decision to allow ministers to
\ncampaign, because, for me, this will obviously interfere with
\ntheir official duties,\" State Minister for National Development
\nPlanning Kwik Kian Gie said.<\/p>\n
Kwik, a PDI-P executive, said he had refused to take part in
\ncampaigning despite a party order requiring him to do so.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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