Cracks emerge in SBY coalition<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Signs of cracks in the coalition of political parties that
\nsupport president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono are emerging as
\nthey question his choice of several ministerial candidates.<\/p>\n
The Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said on Sunday
\nit was considering withdrawing its support for Susilo, should the
\npresident-elect press ahead with his appointment of ministerial
\ncandidates whose future policies would lean towards the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and other figures who were
\nimplicated in legal problems.<\/p>\n
Susilo, however, defended his stance, saying he had checked
\nwith watchdog institutions and found the candidates were
\neligible. No one should \"dent their chances of becoming
\nministers\", he said.<\/p>\n
The president-elect continued his one-on-one interviews with
\nprospective aides at his residence in the Puri Cikeas Indah
\nhousing complex in Bogor later in the day. EE Mangindaan, of the
\nDemocratic Party that Susilo cofounded, Suryadarma Ali, of the
\nUnited Development Party and Anggito Abimanyu, who chairs the
\nAgency for Economic Analysis and International Cooperation
\n(Bapekti), turned up for the interviews that started at about
\n8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Former Indonesian ambassador to Russia Rachmat Witoelar also
\nappeared at Susilo's residence but was tightlipped as he rushed
\nto his waiting car.<\/p>\n
PKS acting chairman Tiffatul Sembiring said Susilo should drop
\ncandidates who were mired in financial and legal problems.<\/p>\n
\"If our warnings fall on deaf ears, we will evaluate our
\npresence in the coalition,\" Tiffatul said. The PKS had also been
\nflooded with demands to reject pro-IMF candidates from its
\nmembers, non-governmental organizations and concerned
\nindividuals, Tiffatul said.<\/p>\n
Economist Mari Elka Pangestu and Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who
\ncurrently serves as the IMF executive director for Southeast
\nAsia, are two candidates for the position. While Mari was
\ninterviewed on Saturday, a source said an interview with Sri
\nMulyani was being arranged.<\/p>\n
Echoing the PKS, the executive board of the Crescent Star
\nParty (PBB) said it was considering abandoning the coalition but
\nfor a different reason.<\/p>\n
PBB deputy chairman Sahar L. Hasan said Susilo had not done
\njustice to the party, which had supported him all along.<\/p>\n
Sahar also said the appointment of ministers with professional
\nbackgrounds might not be a good idea. \"Those who are considered
\nprofessional may not have a managerial capability. They even
\ncould have contributed to wrecking the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The PBB is led by Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who currently serves
\nas Minister for Justice and Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Susilo dismissed fears his Cabinet would be influenced by the
\nIMF, saying that Indonesia had severed ties with the
\ninternational donor in regards to the Letter of Intent that had
\nspelled out the country's agreement to carry out IMF-prescribed
\neconomic recovery programs.<\/p>\n
He also said he had checked with the Enterprise Assets
\nManagement, which is to take over the unfinished jobs of the now-
\ndefunct Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, over allegations
\nsome of his candidates were blacklisted.<\/p>\n
\"As I have found out these rumors are not true, no one should
\nforbid me from appointing them as my ministers,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
He said he would reserve high-ranking government posts for
\npolitical parties, whose members might not secure ministerial
\njobs.<\/p>\n
\"Believe me, I will remember the parties' contributions to my
\nsuccess and I will grant their members appropriate posts which,
\nof course, should not be in my Cabinet,\" Susilo said.<\/p>",
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