New state secretary picked on merit: Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Beset by allegations of collusion and nepotism
\nin the Bulogate scandal, President Abdurrahman Wahid installed
\nDjohan Effendi as state secretary on Wednesday in what he said
\nwas an appointment based on merit.<\/p>\n
The President acknowledged that Djohan was a close friend of
\nhis but insisted he was a senior and qualified bureaucrat.<\/p>\n
In the ceremony, which also included the appointment of
\nSoedarti Surbakti as Central Bureau of Statistics chief,
\nAbdurrahman described Djohan as an experienced bureaucrat who was
\na onetime senior assistant to then state secretary Moerdiono in
\nthe 1990s.<\/p>\n
He added that Djohan's record as head of the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs' research and development agency was
\nnoteworthy.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he decided to choose Djohan as Bondan
\nGunawan's successor because he needed a senior aide who could
\nprovide him with accurate information and input about state
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
\"He has a deep knowledge of the State Secretariat's situation
\nand development. That is the reason why I asked him to be a state
\nsecretary,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
\"Not because he is my longtime friend\".<\/p>\n
The President did not mention Bondan, who was also present
\nduring the ceremony, in his speech and merely indicated that he
\nwas satisfied with the state information he received so far.<\/p>\n
Bondan made a shock resignation late on Monday after his name
\nwas increasingly linked to the Rp 35 billion scandal at the State
\nLogistics Agency (Bulog).<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman specifically recruited close friend Bondan as
\nsecretary of government supervision in January. A month later he
\nappointed Bondan as acting state secretary following the
\nresignation of Ali Rahman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has lost six Cabinet members since his election as
\nthe country's fourth president in October.<\/p>\n
Bondan again professed his innocence following the ceremony.<\/p>\n
\"I am very eager to be summoned by the DPR (the House of
\nRepresentatives) and police,\" he said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-state-secretary-picked-on-merit-gus-dur-1447893297",
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