Mega attacks ex-ministers<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has criticized as disloyal her
\nformer cabinet ministers who have resigned to run in the
\npresidential election, accusing them of jumping on a bandwagon.<\/p>\n
Speaking after lodging her presidential bid with the General
\nElections Commission (KPU), Megawati said a democracy needed
\npeople prepared to sacrifice their desire for personal power for
\nthe good of the country.<\/p>\n
\"People should know what role they play. If they fail to
\nunderstand, they're like leaping squirrels (fickle creatures) who
\nsacrifice the country's interests (for their own),\" Megawati said
\nto thundering applause from her party leadership.<\/p>\n
Megawati also questioned whether the current crop of
\npresidential aspirants still abided by rules and ethics in their
\npursuit of political goals.<\/p>\n
Two senior cabinet ministers -- former coordinating minister
\nfor political and security affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
\nformer coordinating minister for the people's welfare Jusuf Kalla
\n-- earlier resigned from Megawati's multi-party cabinet to pursue
\ntheir political ambitions.<\/p>\n
Susilo was the first of many in Cabinet to decide to run for
\nthe presidential post in the July 5 election, with Kalla coming
\nin later as his running mate.<\/p>\n
The pair nominated by the Democratic Party have been touted as
\nthe strongest contenders in the July 5 election, ahead of
\nMegawati and Hasyim Muzadi for the Democratic Party of Struggle,
\nand Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid for the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Susilo resigned from Cabinet in March after being left in the
\ncold by Megawati in the decision-making process concerning
\ncrucial security issues. His decision to resign was welcomed by
\npolitical analysts, who said staying in power would have created
\na conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
Agum Gumelar, the former minister of communications, has also
\nresigned his post, following his decision to join United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) presidential candidate Hamzah Haz as his
\nrunning mate.<\/p>\n
Hamzah and Agum officially announced their bid on Wednesday in
\na modest celebration at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium,
\nCentral Jakarta, and registered with the KPU later in the
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
A retired four-star general, Agum defended his vice-
\npresidential bid. Teaming up with Hamzah would boost reform and
\ndemocracy in the country, he said.<\/p>\n
The same day, Agum quit his Cabinet job after tendering a
\nresignation letter to President Megawati, State Secretary Bambang
\nKesowo said.<\/p>\n
Bambang said Agum's resignation would not affect the
\nperformance of Megawati's cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"So far, several ministers have quit their jobs, but senior
\nministers are able to fill in for them and the Cabinet still
\nperforms well,\" he said after a meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission I on foreign affairs.<\/p>\n
However, Vice President Hamzah did not resign from his
\nposition as it was too vital to be left vacant, Bambang said.<\/p>\n
\"In many countries, if the incumbent president and vice
\npresident run in the presidential election they still retain
\ntheir positions,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-attacks-ex-ministers-1447893297",
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