Observers: Focus should be on forming effective government<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers warned on Friday that
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri should focus on forming an
\neffective government rather than letting herself be constrained
\nby party demands for more seats in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Pabottingi of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI) said that effective government was badly needed to help
\novercome the country's multi-dimensional crisis.<\/p>\n
"There's no need for Megawati to be worried about losing party
\nsupport or facing impeachment by the People's Consultative
\nAssembly. The most important thing she must do now is to
\nimmediately set up a professional and solid Cabinet to put her
\ndevelopment programs in all fields into effect," he told The
\nJakarta Post by telephone here.<\/p>\n
Mochtar said the ongoing horse-trading among the parties,
\nwhich has forced a delay in the announcement of the Cabinet line-
\nup until next Thursday, would only undermine Megawati's
\ngovernment as the politicians in the Cabinet would work more for
\ntheir party's interests.<\/p>\n
"We worry that political figures will pay more attention to
\nmaking money for themselves and their parties," he said.<\/p>\n
Mochtar said Megawati should recruit more technocrats instead
\nof politicians because besides being professional, technocrats or
\nspecialists were more dedicated and not tied to particular
\nparties and their political interests.<\/p>\n
"Megawati should learn from U.S. technocrats who dominate that
\ncountry's bureaucracy, or from Indonesian economists, including
\nSumitro Djojohadikusumo, Emil Salim and Frans Seda, for their
\ndedication to nation-building in the past," he said.<\/p>\n
Maswadi Rauf, a political observer from the University of
\nIndonesia, said many sides were disappointed by the delay in
\nannouncing the cabinet line-up because there were many major
\nproblems that needed immediate handling.<\/p>\n
"It's strange that the President has to spend three weeks to
\nproduce a Cabinet while at the same time caretaker ministers are
\nnot allowed to make any decisions on important matters," he
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
He said the President should bear in mind that the public at
\nlarge did not care about the ongoing horse-trading as what they
\nneeded was concrete action to solve the economic crisis, uphold
\nthe law and restore order and security.<\/p>\n
Maswadi shared Mochtar's view, saying that Megawati had no
\nobligation to establish a rainbow Cabinet.<\/p>\n
"Megawati must recruit professional, honest and loyal
\nindividuals to her Cabinet. Of course, the parties can seek
\nseats, but Megawati has the prerogative to reject such requests,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Sri Soemantri from Jayabaya University praised Megawati's
\nwillingness to form a rainbow Cabinet to win cross-party support
\nfor her government.<\/p>\n
"Megawati and her party must be accommodative because
\naccording to the Constitution, Indonesia has a quasi-presidential
\nsystem, or a quasi-parliamentary system, if you like," he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
He said that under this quasi-parliamentary system, the
\npresident was elected by the People's Consultative Assembly and
\nhad to account for his or her administration to the Assembly,
\nwhich had the authority to dismiss the president.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Gadjah Mada University scholars warned in
\nYogyakarta on Friday that Megawati should no longer keep delaying
\nthe announcement of her cabinet line-up, otherwise she would lose
\nthe positive momentum that had arisen following her election as
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
"She may just be trying to be very careful so as to avoid the
\nsame mistakes that were made by her predecessor, who often
\nchanged his Cabinet line-up. But it will be costly if she takes
\ntoo much time to set up a Cabinet," economist Sri Adiningsih from
\nGadjah Mada University's School of Economics told the Post by
\nphone.<\/p>\n
Megawati had previously promised to announce her Cabinet line-
\nup within a few days after she was sworn in as President. She
\nhas, however, delayed it several times, with the latest promise
\nbeing that she will announce it next week.<\/p>\n
Such delays, according to Adiningsing, had created uncertainty
\nand could result in a negative reaction from the market.<\/p>\n
"In fact, the new government will certainly need economic
\nstability, as the new economic authorities will need it as a more
\nsolid basis to carry out their duties," she said.<\/p>\n
To maintain the good momentum and avoid further economic
\ninstability, Adiningsih suggested that Megawati announce her
\nCabinet line-up soon. The sooner, the better, she said.<\/p>\n
Riswandha Imawan, a scholar from Gadjah Mada University's
\nSchool of Political and Social Sciences, said, "I just can't
\nunderstand why it is so difficult for Megawati to decide on a
\nCabinet, given the fact that she possesses all the constitutional
\nrequirements to become a president. She has also said repeatedly
\nthat she was ready to become president," Riswandha told the Post
\nby telephone.<\/p>\n
Riswandha also expressed his concern that Megawati would lose
\nmomentum if she failed to set up a Cabinet as soon as possible.
\nPolitically, he said, such slow progress would be viewed as a
\nweakness in leadership as she would be seen as being unable to
\nmake decisions.<\/p>\n
A good leader, by contrast, is a person who is capable of
\nmaking quick decisions, even in very difficult circumstances, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Megawati is apparently being trapped into someone else's
\nscenario where she is unable to play her own game. Therefore, she
\nhas no other choice than to quickly make a decision and announce
\nthe cabinet line-up immediately. Tomorrow (Saturday), if
\nnecessary," Riswandha said. (rms\/swa)<\/p>",
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