President endorses caretaker ministers' crucial rulings<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In an about-face, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri has approved all crucial decisions made by the
\ncurrent caretaker ministers, including one to stop a contract
\nwith PT Sucofindo, an export inspection company.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Vice President secretary Bambang Kesowo said on
\nFriday that caretaker ministers had reported all critical
\ndecisions directly to the President and they were approved before
\nthey were announced to the public.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no problems at all, because as it was announced
\nearlier, all decisions had been reported by the related ministers
\nto the President,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Megawati assumed power on July 23 and suspended the Cabinet
\nuntil a new one could be formed.<\/p>\n
The President announced a few hours after she was sworn into
\noffice that all caretaker ministers should not make any important
\ndecisions until a new Cabinet was formed.<\/p>\n
However, caretaker finance minister Rizal Ramli decided that
\nthe government, through the offices of customs and excise, would
\ntake over the export inspection services of state-owned surveyor
\nfirm PT Sucofindo.<\/p>\n
The government refused to extend Sucofindo's contract, which
\nexpired on July 31, so inspection services have fallen back into
\nthe hands of the customs and excise office.<\/p>\n
Caretaker minister of justice and human rights Mahfud MD also
\nmade a crucial decision on Thursday by installing a new warden at
\nCipinang State Penitentiary, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
But Bambang noted, \"The President had approved these decisions
\nand the related ministers had reported them before they made any
\npublic announcements.\"<\/p>\n
His statement followed pressure from the Association of
\nIndonesian Exporters (GPEI) to annul the decision that returned
\nthe export inspection service to customs and excise.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, GPEI chairman Amirudin Saud said he had sent a
\nletter to the President urging her to again entrust Sucofindo
\nwith the inspection service.<\/p>\n
He said exporters were satisfied with the service under
\nSucofindo, which took up the task in 1986.<\/p>\n
The state-owned company assumed the service from customs and
\nexcise as part of the government's outsourcing drive to expedite
\nthe shipping of export goods.<\/p>\n
However, the Indonesian Textile Association (API), a largely
\nexport-oriented industry, said on Friday that it did not object
\nto customs and excise taking over the inspection service.
\n(dja\/bkm)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-endorses-caretaker-ministers-crucial-rulings-1447893297",
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