New cabinet needs to prove clean governance<\/p>\n
A new 36-strong cabinet was sworn in on Monday. Subroto,
\nrector of the Pancasila University and a former cabinet minister,
\ndiscusses society's expectations from the new cabinet.<\/p>\n
Question: Do you think that President Soeharto has
\naccommodated calls for a cabinet consisting only of people with
\nintegrity in his new line up?<\/p>\n
Subroto: We had better not hold prejudices against the new
\ncabinet. We must be open-minded. Society will evaluate whether or
\nnot the new cabinet are clean and of high integrity. Now that the
\ncabinet has been established we should give the new ministers an
\nopportunity to carry out their jobs as well as possible.<\/p>\n
Q: Last year's recruitment of members for the House of
\nRepresentatives showed a neptotistic tendency. Do you see a
\nsimilar tendency in the appointment of new ministers?<\/p>\n
S: You are asking about what has been noted in society's mind. In
\nmy opinion, the government currently needs the support of the
\npeople to carry out the hard task of solving economic, social and
\npolitical problems. We should not hastily judge it. We should
\ngive it a chance to carry out it's assignment.<\/p>\n
Q: The recent General Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) suggested that the new cabinet should try to
\neradicate corruption and collusive practices. Do you think the
\nnew cabinet is capable of carrying out such a task?<\/p>\n
S: We cannot judge that yet. The new cabinet members have to
\nprove that they are capable of this.<\/p>\n
Q: We have a Supreme Audit Agency, which is the government's
\nfinancial comptroller, yet corruption and collusive practices
\nhave continued to flourish. What measures should the new cabinet
\ntake to eradicate these practices?<\/p>\n
S: I think the new cabinet members should declare their wealth
\nbefore they start their jobs and an independent watchdog should
\nbe established to monitor corruption and collusive practices.
\nMore importantly, the media should be given greater freedom to
\nreport the truth.<\/p>\n
Q: What strengths do you see in the new cabinet?<\/p>\n
S: One of the outstanding features of the new cabinet is that it
\nhas a lot of distinguished academics.<\/p>\n
The new economic team includes prominent businesspeople. These
\npeople, who are used to dealing with microeconomic issues, will
\nhave to adjust their outlook because now, as ministers, they will
\nhave to deal with macroeconomic policies. I hope the economic
\nministers will be able to help the country solve its current
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
On political affairs, I hope that Minister of Home Affairs R.
\nHartono, a former high-ranking military official, will be able to
\naccelerate the country's political development. As we all know,
\nPresident Soeharto has traditionally assigned a military officer
\nto lead the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think that a military appointment will be able to
\naccommodate popular demands for democracy and political reform?<\/p>\n
S: I see some changes in the government's attitude. Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto, for example, said the government will
\nopen communications channels more widely, so that there will be
\nmore dialog held with the people. If that really happens it will
\nbe a significant breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think the cabinet composition represents the plurality
\nof the nation?<\/p>\n
S: The cabinet includes the younger generation, academics,
\nmilitary officials, women and a member of the Chinese community
\n-- Mohamad (Bob) Hasan is the first ethnic Chinese to be included
\nin President Soeharto's cabinets. Moslems are also well
\nrepresented in the cabinet. However, we do not see any
\nrepresentative from the opposition political parties. Perhaps,
\nconsidering the serious nature of the problems faced by the
\ncountry, Pak Harto has chosen cabinet members who will be 100
\npercent loyal to him.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you think President Soeharto considered suggestions from
\nother parties when he selected new cabinet members?<\/p>\n
S: Pak Harto surely received suggestions from many parties. But
\nhe, as leader of the nation for over 30 years, has become an
\naccomplished expert in choosing his aides.<\/p>\n
Q: Will the new cabinet members be able to help solve the
\ncountry's problems?<\/p>\n
S: Sometimes people can do more than expected. We'd better let
\nthem prove their worth to society. (riz)<\/p>",
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