Observers stress need for professional Cabinet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers have emphasized the need to recruit
\nprofessionals, instead of people linked to political parties, for
\nthe new Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Economist Sri Adiningsih from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity said the government was facing more daunting tasks in
\nthe economic field as the public and market expect better
\nperformance of the government.<\/p>\n
\"The next revamped Cabinet should comprise professionals,
\nparticularly those who will make up the economic team. More
\nprofessionals will reduce a potential conflict of interest within
\nthe administration,\" she told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that the government is managing huge assets tends to
\nattract a conflict of interest. If that happens, it will surely
\nhinder efforts to form an effective government.\"<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid announced earlier that 60 percent
\nof the seats in the Cabinet would be filled by professionals
\nwhile the remaining would be given to political parties.<\/p>\n
Many have aired the demand that professionals should hold
\nstrategic posts, such as in the economy, finance and industry,
\nlegal affairs and political and security affairs.<\/p>\n
Adiningsih suggested the government should also revamp the
\nsecond line of government posts under the ministers in a bid to
\nkeep the bureaucracy clear of political contamination.<\/p>\n
\"Reshuffling the Cabinet isn't enough to restore public and
\nmarket trust in the government. It should also be followed by a
\nfurther reshuffle of the lower posts under the ministries,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said many second-level posts, such as ministers' advisory
\nteams and directorate generals, were occupied by people who were
\naffiliated with political parties or linked to the New Order
\nregime.<\/p>\n
\"During the ten months of Abdurrahman's administration, the
\npromotion of officials to secondary posts was frequently
\nintervened by political parties and leaders. Thus, reshuffling
\nthe bureaucracy is imperative to rebuild trust in the
\ngovernment,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The mounting demand for a professional Cabinet was affirmed by
\nthe latest survey conducted by Kompas daily, which revealed that
\nnearly half the respondents wanted professionals to hold all the
\nposts in the next Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Didiek J. Rachbini, a researcher at the Institute of
\nDevelopment and Finance (INDEF), echoed those calling for a
\nprofessional Cabinet, although he did not care about the
\npolitical background of the ministerial candidates.<\/p>\n
\"A perception that members of political parties are not
\nprofessional is, of course, wrong. The most important thing is
\nthat a Cabinet member has a commitment to improve the
\ngovernment's performance,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A rejection to include politicians in the Cabinet was aired by
\nthe University of Indonesia's Center for Popular Economy
\nDevelopment (LPEM) researcher, M. Ikhsan.<\/p>\n
\"The Cabinet needs people who are able and willing to work
\nhard. The ministers must also have no vested interests while
\ncarrying out their mission to speed up our economic recovery,\" he
\ntold Antara.<\/p>\n
\"Economic ministers must be professional because the field is
\nrelated to technical matters. Politicians can do nothing there.\"<\/p>\n
Ikhsan, however, acknowledged that some politicians fit the
\nbill, but they should quit from their political organizations
\nonce they join the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"They should leave their parties behind and be transparent
\nwhen it comes to the budget in a bid to prevent them from
\nmisusing it for the interest of their parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a researcher at the Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies (CIDES), Umar Juoro, underscored the market's
\nacceptance of economic ministers.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever the ministers are, they must obtain political support
\nfrom the House of Representatives (DPR) and be accepted by the
\nmarket,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also emphasized the importance of reorganizing the economic
\nministries to increase efficiency.<\/p>\n
\"It's important, for instance, to unify the ministries of
\npublic works, settlement and regional development and
\ncommunication.<\/p>\n
\"We must also dissolve the state minister of investment and
\nstate enterprises development office. The job to manage state
\nenterprises must be returned to the finance minister, while the
\ninvestment section can be handled by the tourism minister,\" Umar
\nsaid. (44\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observers-stress-need-for-professional-cabinet-1447893297",
"image": ""
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