Mega's Cabinet still has potential flaws: Sjahrir<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amid enthusiastic responses for President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's Gotong Royong Cabinet from many parties,
\nthe New Indonesia Alliance (PIB) reminded on Monday that the
\nCabinet still contains potential problems.<\/p>\n
PIB chairman and noted economist Sjahrir said that a positive
\nresponse to the Cabinet was given by the market without
\npredicting whether it could demonstrate good performance within
\nthe next three months.<\/p>\n
\"The political parties support Megawati's Cabinet. It (the
\nsupport), however, has yet to be an indication that the Cabinet
\nhas strong credibility and, as such, that appraisal is still
\ntemporary.<\/p>\n
\"As soon as the Cabinet shows unsatisfactory performance,
\nespecially in supporting an economic recovery and law
\nenforcement, the market will become negative,\" Sjahrir said after
\nannouncing the results of PIB's recent survey conducted in 11
\nmajor cities throughout the country to gather a preliminary
\npublic opinion regarding the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Sjahrir explained that the survey encompassed 600 respondents
\nfrom Jakarta, Bandung (West Java), Yogyakarta, Semarang (Central
\nJava), Denpasar (Bali), Padang (West Sumatra), Makassar (South
\nSulawesi), Manado (North Sulawesi), Medan (North Sumatra),
\nSurabaya (East Java) and Pontianak (West Kalimantan).<\/p>\n
Sjahrir said respondents believed the Cabinet would be able to
\nbring the country out of the current economic crisis as well as
\nuphold law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\"About 69.4 percent of respondents to the survey praised
\nMegawati for her ability to establish a good team of economic
\nministers who understand and are capable of solving the country's
\neconomic problems,\" Sjahrir said, adding that nearly 50 percent
\nof the respondents believed that the appointment of Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra as the minister of justice was appropriate.<\/p>\n
Sjahrir, however, disclosed that some respondents expressed
\ntheir doubt as to whether Megawati could resolve the complicated
\nlegal problems as indicated by the delay in the appointment of
\nthe attorney general.<\/p>\n
\"Respondents said that a good relationship between the
\nMinistry of Justice and the attorney general will determine
\nwhether the Cabinet manages to uphold law enforcement. People are
\nwondering whether Mega will appoint the right figure to fill the
\npost, as she, until now, has yet to announce criteria for the
\npost,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sjahrir further said that the appointment of Rini M.S.
\nSoewandi and A.M. Hendropriyono, as the minister of industry and
\ntrade and chief of the National Intelligence Agency respectively,
\nhad the potential to raise conflicts of interest in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"Rini is a businesswoman who operates in three major business
\nsectors -- automotive, information technology and financial
\nsecurity -- even though Megawati appointed her in such a 'blind
\ntrust' position in order to avoid such a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
\"Hendropriyono is a member of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). He is also a founder and
\nowner of the Hendropriyono Law Office, which gives legal
\nassistance to soldiers charged with human rights violations. It's
\nso complicated,\" Sjahrir said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Hendro -- who is to control about 400
\nintelligence officers in charge of collecting, processing and
\nproviding data to be presented to Megawati -- resign from PDI
\nPerjuangan in order to maintain professionalism in the collation
\nof state intelligence and not \"party intelligence\".<\/p>\n
\"Hendro must also close his law firm, or resign from it, if
\nthe government wants to seriously handle the human rights
\nviolation cases,\" Sjahrir added. (tso)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megas-cabinet-still-has-potential-flaws-sjahrir-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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