New ministers comment on appointment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new Cabinet ministers had differing views
\nand comments on their appointment. The following are excerpts of
\nwhat they said:<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono<\/p>\n
I was watching television when the President read out the
\nlineup of the new Cabinet. I will be back in the office soon.<\/p>\n
(Susilo Bambang is mourning the death of his father, who
\npassed away seven days ago.)<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti:<\/p>\n
She (President Megawati Soekarnoputri) asked for my opinion
\n(on who should become the finance minister), and I said it would
\nbe better if I knew the person. But that's totally the
\nPresident's prerogative and I had nothing to do with the
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
I am very happy that Pak Boediono was appointed and I admire
\nhim for his capabilities. I remember his warm smile and patience.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla<\/p>\n
Don't associate our office with floods and other natural
\ndisasters. We will deal more with finding ways to improve
\npeople's welfare. And this can be pursued by building better
\neconomic, social and political infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno:<\/p>\n
I've spent more then six years as a legislator so I know how
\nto deal with the House of Representatives. When I was the
\nchairman of House Commission II for home and legal affairs, I
\nused to work with the home affairs minister.<\/p>\n
I have to learn a lot in dealing with the series of
\ndisintegration problems facing the country and to pay attention
\nto the role of justice in economics, politics and welfare for the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nur Hassan Wirayuda:<\/p>\n
As a professional and career diplomat, I am honored to have
\nbeen given the chance to occupy this position.<\/p>\n
The country will maintain ASEAN as the cornerstone of our
\nforeign policy. Regaining the country's tarnished image and
\nattracting investors will be the other main objectives that I
\nwill have to concentrate on.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil<\/p>\n
As the civilian who will lead \"the Indonesian generals'
\nheadquarters,\" I will soften the dichotomy between civilians and
\nmilitary. We must believe that the military has sacrificed in
\nmany things, including in the recent dispute among civilian
\npoliticians.<\/p>\n
It will not be hard for me to command the generals as I'm a
\nnine-star general. (He is referring to the nine-star symbol of
\nIndonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, which
\nMatori is affiliated with).<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra:<\/p>\n
I know there will be difficult tasks ahead of me. I was at the
\nministry before and I know that we have very limited human
\nresources, facilities and a poor system in dealing with justice
\nand human rights.<\/p>\n
I am going to first concentrate on improving the country's
\nlegal system.<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Boediono:<\/p>\n
I feel just fine. I felt that I couldn't turn down an offer
\ncoming straight from the President, and I believe that we all
\nshould support this new government.<\/p>\n
One of my priorities is to draw up the draft budget for 2002,
\nreview its key assumptions and secure a deal with the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF).<\/p>\n
The new Cabinet shouldn't just be market-friendly, but also
\njournalist-friendly.<\/p>\n
Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Mariani Sumarno Soewandi:<\/p>\n
I need time to study all this and create a policy. Our
\nultimate aim, I think, is to get out of the economic rut that we
\nare in, so therefore we cannot rush into creating a program.<\/p>\n
We must remember that the program needs to be supported by
\nstrong exports, and we know that our exports are suffering from a
\ndecline. We have to study which sectors are competitive for
\nexports.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Agum Gumelar<\/p>\n
I will be the chief of servants as the slogan of my ministry
\ngoes, and I will give the best service to the people.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea:<\/p>\n
I want to provide a friendly environment for businessmen and
\nemployees, so that the country can once again become a place for
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
Improving the whole system of the Indonesian migrant worker
\nprogram will also be another point that I will concentrate on. I
\ndo not want to see anymore of our workers victimized while they
\nare working.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi:<\/p>\n
I will continue my job as the health minister. I want
\neverybody to have access to a community-based health care system,
\nand I will propose a bill that can help all citizens join a
\nhealth care program or social security program, so that everyone
\nwill have health insurance.<\/p>\n
Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar<\/p>\n
There are still many things to do, including bridging the wide
\ngap between education in the regions and the government's core
\nand stopping the discrimination of people with different
\nabilities.<\/p>\n
The government should also change its fiscal policy which only
\nconcentrates on the production of goods and services and not on
\ninvesting in people, so we can have strong human resources.<\/p>\n
Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah:<\/p>\n
Dealing with displaced people and victims of natural disasters
\nacross the country will be my main priority.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Social Affairs will not act as a Santa Claus
\nthat only distributes gifts, but I will empower people to finally
\nhelp themselves.<\/p>\n
I sincerely ask the people to help me in dealing with street
\nchildren and overcoming the problems of poverty because of
\ncontinuing economic hardship.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises
\nAlimarwan Hanan:<\/p>\n
We all know that most poor people count on cooperatives. So we
\nhope to get the ministry to do the best thing for the people.<\/p>\n
State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim<\/p>\n
I have this thought that the legal approach is not the only
\nway to force businesses to protect the environment. There are
\nalternative ways and they may be more effective. We have to find
\nthose alternatives. One of them might be implementing a rating
\nsystem for industries and how they treat pollution.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Women's Empowerment Sri Redjeki Soemarjoto<\/p>\n
I will continue the work that has been started by my
\npredecessor and will fight for women's welfare in terms of their
\nsocial, political and also their health rights.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul Muarif:<\/p>\n
Now we have a state ministry of communications and
\ninformation. I cannot reveal the job description as there will be
\na presidential decree on that. Two things are certain though, and
\nI will continue establishing friendship and cooperation with the
\nmedia.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, we will maintain good relations and communication.
\nAll citizens in remote places should have the opportunity to
\nobtain information. I would appreciate the public's suggestions
\nin regards to free access to information. (team)<\/p>",
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