Ministers accept Cabinet shake-up<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the Cabinet revamp countdown ticking on,
\nministers expressed no resistance to their destiny on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Some of them exhibited traces of tension before and after
\nattending the weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has repeatedly hinted another shake-up in his
\nCabinet, after sacking five ministers within just seven months of
\nhis tenure.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab even boasted on
\nThursday that he was ready to be jailed if he was found guilty of
\ncommitting a crime.<\/p>\n
\"I can spend my days by reading the Koran during my
\nimprisonment,\" Alwi said and burst into laughter.<\/p>\n
Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra just
\nreplied: \"No problem,\" when asked how he would feel if the
\nPresident asked him to leave his post.<\/p>\n
He reminded journalists that he had once tendered his
\nresignation to the President following allegations that, in his
\ncapacity as the chairman of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), he
\nreceived Rp 1 billion from then president B.J. Habibie to finance
\nhis election campaign.<\/p>\n
Citing an old saying, State Minister of Cooperatives, Small
\nand Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur, emphasized there was a time
\nto come and a time to leave.<\/p>\n
\"As I was ready to be appointed, I am also ready to be
\ndischarged,\" said Zarkasih before attending the Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Zarkasih is the only remaining minister representing the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
The party chairman, Hamzah Haz, was the first minister to lose
\nhis seat in the Cabinet. Abdurrahman sacked Hamzah only one month
\nafter his appointment as coordinating minister for people's
\nwelfare and poverty alleviation.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists Tuesday in Cairo, Abdurrahman insisted
\nthat he would dismiss the representatives of political parties in
\nthe Cabinet in August, shortly after the People's Consultative
\nAssembly annual meeting.<\/p>\n
The President complained that many of the ministers are more
\nloyal to their parties than to him as the head of state.<\/p>\n
\"After being appointed cabinet ministers, they must abandon
\nparty interests, and work for the sake of the country,\" Zarkasih
\ncommented about Abdurrahman's remark.<\/p>\n
When the Cabinet was formed in October, Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which topped the votes table
\nin last year's general election, placed four cadre -- Kwik Kian
\nGie as the coordinating minister for the economy, finance and
\nindustry, Laksamana Sukardi as state minister of investment and
\nstate enterprises development, M. Prakosa as minister of
\nagriculture, and Soni Keraf as state minister of environment --
\nin the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan lost Laksamana late in April, while Golkar saw
\nYusuf Kalla dismissed as minister of industry and trade.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who is also speaker of the
\nHouse, promoted four colleagues, including Attorney General
\nMarzuki Darusman and State Minister of Youths Affairs and Sports
\nMahadi Sinambela.<\/p>\n
\"Do you have any choice?\" Mahadi replied when journalists
\nasked what he would do if the President dismissed him.<\/p>\n
The National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais has been able
\nto retain three party members in the Cabinet, including Minister
\nof Finance Bambang Sudibyo and Minister of National Education
\nYahya Muhaimin.<\/p>\n
\"I am ready to face all possibilities. Why should I worry?\"
\nBambang said on the sidelines of a hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has five senior inactive
\nofficers in charge as ministers. They are Minister of Home
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. (ret.) Surjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Mines and
\nEnergy Lt. Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of
\nTransportation Lt. Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar, State Minister of
\nAdministrative Reform Vice Adm. (ret) Freddy Numberi and the
\nIndonesian Military Chief Admiral Widodo A.S..<\/p>\n
The military lost Gen. (ret.) Wiranto as coordinating minister
\nin February but earned another ministerial post when Lt. Gen.
\n(ret.) Luhut Panjaitan was appointed in April to replace Kalla.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, the National Mandate Party (PKB) co-founder, even
\nadded to his four-member team, including Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Alwi Shihab, and State Minister of Women Affairs Khofifah
\nIndar Parawansa, to five, with the promotion of Rozy Munir as
\nLaksamana's successor.<\/p>\n
\"If the President decides to dismiss me, it means he makes his
\nbest decision,\" Khofifah said about her possible dismissal. (prb)<\/p>",
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