Legislators pledge support for new Cabinet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nand People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) threw their weight
\nbehind the new gotong royong (mutual help) Cabinet under
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung assured that the Cabinet had the
\nfull support of the legislature while MPR speaker Amien Rais
\npraised the new Cabinet lineup as \"highly positive\".<\/p>\n
\"The composition of the Cabinet is in line with what people
\nhad generally hoped for,\" said Akbar, who is also chairman of the
\nGolkar Party, whose faction at the DPR is the second largest
\nafter that of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP).<\/p>\n
He added that he was happy with the balance in the new
\nCabinet, which was divided equally between politicians and
\nprofessionals.<\/p>\n
Akbar was speaking at a media briefing held shortly after the
\nannouncement of the new Cabinet lineup, which was witnessed on
\ntelevision by about 50 journalists and several Golkar Party
\nmembers in Akbar's office at DPR.<\/p>\n
Shouts of joy greeted the naming of three Golkar Party members
\nby President Megawati Soekarnoputri, namely Jusuf Kalla as
\ncoordinating minister for people's welfare affairs, Syamsul
\nMu'arif as the state minister of communications and information
\nand Sri Redjeki Soemarjoto as the state minister of women's
\nempowerment. Also in the room were Golkar Party members' Bomer
\nPasaribu and Setya Novanto.<\/p>\n
Syamsul is Golkar Party's faction chief in the DPR while Sri
\nRedjeki is secretary-general of the House.<\/p>\n
Both Akbar and Syamsul kissed Sri Redjeki good luck
\nimmediately after the announcement.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very happy that the President has bestowed great trust on
\nseveral Golkar Party members and we give our full support to this
\nCabinet. We hope this Cabinet can work together as a team as it
\nis named gotong royong (mutual help),\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said that Golkar had recommended several former Cabinet
\nministers, such as former minister of mines and energy Purnomo
\nYusgiantoro, for the new Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"Ibu President responded to our suggestions really well,\"
\nAkbar added.<\/p>\n
Separately, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais told a joint Assembly
\nleaders' media conference that he was personally disappointed
\nbecause one of his candidates, Bambang Sudibyo, failed to reenter
\nthe Cabinet. Bambang was nominated for the post of finance
\nminister.<\/p>\n
\"But I am quite happy as the much-awaited Cabinet has finally
\nbeen formed. I have to advance the nation's interests. I'm sure
\nthat the people, the market as well as related foreign countries
\nwill welcome this positively,\" said Amien, who is also the
\nchairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
The media conference was held shortly after the Cabinet
\nannouncement, which was witnessed by MPR leaders on television.<\/p>\n
Also attending the session were Assembly deputy speakers Hari
\nSabarno, who has just been appointed minister of home affairs,
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita, Husnie Thamrin and Nazri Adlani.<\/p>\n
\"You are going to ask me ... whether I'm disappointed because
\nmy nominee (Bambang) was not selected for the Cabinet. I'm
\ntelling you it's normal to be disappointed, but such feelings are
\nreplaced by this great Cabinet. I am very positive about this
\nCabinet,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
Amien further expressed confidence that the new Cabinet would
\nwork together in solving the nation's problems, especially on
\neconomic recovery and security matters.<\/p>\n
He also praised both Assembly deputy chiefs, Hari Sabarno from
\nthe TNI\/Police faction and Matori Abdul Djalil from the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) faction.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Hari Sabarno will do great things as minister of home
\naffairs and I believe Pak Matori will also be a good minister of
\ndefense,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
He further said that the MPR status of both Hari and Matori
\nwould soon be changed in accordance with Assembly regulations.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI\/Police faction can submit a replacement while, in Pak
\nMatori's case, once the PKB faction actively resumes activities
\nin the Assembly, they can submit a replacement during the next
\nMPR general session,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Ginandjar Kartasasmita praised the Cabinet's
\neconomic team.<\/p>\n
\"The economic team is comprised of figures who have high
\ncredentials on both academic and professional matters. Pak
\nDorodjatun is a highly respected professor and also a former
\nambassador to the U.S. We also have figures like Pak Boediono who
\nhas a strong background at Bappenas (National Development
\nPlanning Board) and Bank Indonesia, so hopefully we'll do just
\nfine,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar was former coordinating minister for the economy in
\nHabibie's administration and also served as minister of mines and
\nenergy during the Soeharto era. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-pledge-support-for-new-cabinet-1447893297",
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