Mega promise corruption-free Cabinet<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In an apparent effort to continue the anticorruption crusade
\nthat he launched as leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim
\nMuzadi, the running mate of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has
\ninsisted that fighting corruption will be one of the main
\npriorities of a Mega-Hasyim government.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Haysim promised that their Cabinet would \"consist
\nof people imbued with loyalty, competence and integrity.\"<\/p>\n
\"I am happy to say that Ibu Megawati agrees about this,\" said
\nHasyim, who declared he was nonactive as NU chairman when the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) declared him as a vice
\npresidential candidate on May 22.<\/p>\n
Addressing one of her rare press conferences, Megawati also
\nsaid that she had agreed with Hasyim not to appoint any person
\ntarnished by suspicions of graft to her Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"It is part of the deal that we discussed six months ago
\nbefore we agreed to pair up as running mates,\" Megawati said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said that combating corruption should start from the
\ntop within the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
In October Hasyim and Syafii Ma'arif, the chairman of
\nMuhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, pledged to
\nwork together in a \"cultural\" movement to combat corruption.<\/p>\n
With their organizations claiming a combined membership of 70
\nmillion, they said they shared the responsibility for spreading
\nthe anticorruption message in their communities and among
\nreligious leaders. Indonesia is among the world's most corrupt
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Megawati meanwhile defended her much criticized stance on
\ncorruption, saying that much had been done to try to bring
\nsuspects to court. Nevertheless, the current attorney general, MA
\nRachman, who has been questioned by the police for concealing
\nassets, has been allowed to remain in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Mega and Hasyim also briefly described their program in the
\neconomics field, which focuses on the creation of jobs, increases
\nin civil service salaries, improvements in education, and
\nreducing the number of those living under the poverty line by 45
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Both leaders also promised to continue with the fight against
\nterrorism \"within proper legal parameters.\"<\/p>\n
In defense of her track record, Megawati said the situation
\ntoday was much better than it was when she was appointed
\nPresident in 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Those who say that the economy is stagnant are simply denying
\nthe facts. There are many things that this current government has
\ndone,\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
The pair also pledged that they would not resort to smears and
\ninsults against their rivals during the month-long presidential
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia should prove to the world that we can practice
\ndemocracy in a peaceful manner,\" the President remarked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-promise-corruption-free-cabinet-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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