Rainbow Cabinet unprofessional, say observers<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Political coalitions that may result in a rainbow Cabinet may
\ncost the next government its professionalism, observers warned on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a discussion held by the Habibie Center, they
\nencouraged presidential candidates to remain nonconformist in
\nestablishing a Cabinet, saying that the number of ministerial
\nseats granted to major parties in the House of Representatives
\ndid not ensure that the president-elect's administration would
\nwork well.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University rector Sofian Effendi
\ncriticized presidential candidates for trying to build coalitions
\nin exchange for political support from lawmakers for their
\npolicies, instead of trying to improve performance to ensure a
\nbetter future for the country.<\/p>\n
\"There are three types of Cabinet that a president can pursue.
\nFirst, a coalition Cabinet consisting of parties' members with
\nthe main aim of securing support from a simple majority at the
\nHouse. Second, a Zaken Cabinet consisting of professionals, which
\nI believe would be promising to lead the country out of the
\nprolonged crisis. Third, a coalition Cabinet that divides
\nministerial posts equally between professionals and politicians,\"
\nSofian said.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the presidential election runoff on Sept. 20, the two
\ncandidates eligible to contest the election, Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri, have stepped up lobbying
\nleaders of political parties that won significant votes in the
\nApril 5 legislative election.<\/p>\n
Such moves are deemed necessary because neither Susilo's nor
\nMegawati's party won a majority in the April polls.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which
\nsupports Megawati, secured 109 of 550 seats, while Susilo's
\nupstart Democratic Party finished with 57 seats.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the political machine of former president Soeharto,
\nreceived the most votes in the April elections with 127 seats,
\nenabling it to hold prominent roles in the House, especially in
\ndetermining policies or state budget proposals by the government.<\/p>\n
The two candidates also separately arranged a series of
\nmeetings with other influential party leaders, including
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nand Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
Many believe that backroom deals on the composition of the
\nCabinet may have taken place during the meetings.<\/p>\n
Sharing Sofian's view was Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, a United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) legislator, who said the presidential
\ncandidates would not necessarily build a coalition with parties
\non the grounds that the bill on ministerial offices would grant
\nthe president the prerogative to appoint his\/her ministers. The
\nbill, if endorsed, will leave lawmakers only with the power to
\napprove any plan to dissolve or restructure nonportfolio
\nministries.<\/p>\n
Lukman is part of a House team that drafted the bill and is
\nexpecting to sit together with the government to deliberate it
\nbefore their term ends at the end of September.<\/p>\n
The bill stipulates fixed ministries that should be maintained
\nby the new government, including the foreign ministry, the
\ndefense ministry, the finance ministry and the justice ministry.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, economist Umar Juoro criticized the concept of a
\ncoalition Cabinet pursued by post-New Order administrations,
\nsaying it had only put the president under heavy pressure from
\ninterests other than his or her main missions.<\/p>\n
He also criticized the presence of coordinating ministers in
\nthe Cabinet, saying they had failed to create synergy among
\nministries under their supervision.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe within the next five years, coordinating ministers
\nshould be scrapped from the Cabinet lineup, because their roles
\nare nothing more than being the government's public relations
\nofficers,\" he said.<\/p>",
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