Ministers told to quit party jobs<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Calls are mounting for Cabinet members to relinquish their posts
\nin political parties and business enterprises to avoid conflict
\nof interests and to allow them to focus on state duties.<\/p>\n
Analysts Johannes Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) and Saldi Isra of the Padang-based
\nAndalas University said on Monday that although there was no
\nregulation requiring ministers to quit their party jobs, such a
\nmove would be a logical consequence of the pledge they made to
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers have signed a contract that they will work to
\nthe utmost to help President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono fulfill his
\ncampaign promises -- and this will be an uphill struggle. They
\nmust concentrate on the job and end any activities relating to
\npolitical parties or business endeavors,\" Kristiadi said.<\/p>\n
Should they not resign, the ministers' work in Cabinet would
\nbe compromised by time spent working with their political
\nparties, he said.<\/p>\n
Several Cabinet ministers have wavered about relinquishing
\ntheir party posts, while Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra and PBB secretary general Malam Sambat
\nKa'ban have explicitly refused to give up their political jobs,
\nsaying there would be no conflict of interest if they were kept
\non as party leaders.<\/p>\n
Six other politically appointed ministers said the final say
\non whether they should resign remained hanging in the balance
\npending decisions from their parties.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi doubted political parties would dismiss members who
\nhad been appointed ministers.<\/p>\n
\"Part of the parties' objectives is to accumulate power and
\nthe appointment of their members as ministers could meet this
\ngoal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Saldi said if the ministers did not resign from political
\nposts their portfolios, and the nation's development, would
\nsuffer.<\/p>\n
\"We have learned from past experience that ministers strive
\nonly for their party interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The likelihood of these ministers resigning however was small
\nas their appointments were precisely because of their political
\naffiliation, he said.<\/p>\n
\"President Susilo handpicked them because they are
\nrepresentatives of political parties, which would likely ease the
\nway for him in the House of Representatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal
\nBakri said on Monday he no longer held any positions in his
\nbusiness empire starting as of June.<\/p>\n
\"I have let younger people take over my duties. It is now my
\nturn to give my service to the public,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministers-told-to-quit-party-jobs-1447893297",
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