SBY asks people to trust him<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Bogor<\/p>\n
A minister from Papua, a civilian for the defense ministry and
\nthree coordinating ministers -- these are the few details of the
\nnew Cabinet announced by president-elect Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono.<\/p>\n
On Thursday he reiterated that coordinating ministers would
\nstill be needed to supervise over 30 ministries despite a number
\nof new councils; and that he alone was responsible for the
\nforthcoming decisions.<\/p>\n
\"I will talk one-on-one to test whether the candidates
\nmeet the criteria. Some may say that SBY is being dictated to by
\nA or B ... that's impossible,\" he said, referring to his popular
\nacronym. \"The final decision, I can assure (you), will be in my
\nhands, trust me,\" he announced during an informal meeting with
\nthe press at his residence in Cikeas, Bogor.<\/p>\n
\"Beginning on Friday (today), I will take some time to be
\nalone and start interviewing my would-be Cabinet members ... I
\nwill only invite strong candidates and decisions will be made
\nonly after I have collected input from many parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the coordinating ministers would be one that handled
\npolitical, legal and security affairs, another for the economy
\nand one for people's welfare. Powers of the current chief
\nsecurity post, which he resigned from to run for president, may
\nbe \"slightly affected\", he said, referring to the \"legal\" affairs
\ninserted in the new position.<\/p>\n
The coordinating ministers would also help him \"deal with all
\nthe governors of the 32 provinces, as well as other councils and
\ncommissions that the state has.\"<\/p>\n
A political analyst, Denny JA, had said after meeting Susilo
\non Tuesday that the councils would be supervised by a
\npresidential office comprising trusted aides -- a \"West Wing\"-
\nlike think tank similar to the one at the U.S. White House.<\/p>\n
The criteria for all candidates includes integrity, capability
\nand \"acceptability,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
At least four officers would be given the job of spokesperson,
\nspeech writer, note taker and legal advisor, respectively in his
\n\"West Wing\".<\/p>\n
The revelation that at least one minister would be from Papua
\nfollows a statement from scholar Andi Mallarangeng, that Susilo
\nwould take pluralism into account in forming the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Critics have questioned the government's goodwill in
\nimplementing the special autonomy law for Papua while continued
\nmilitary presence remains the foremost visible approach to
\nsecurity problems there.<\/p>\n
As for the defense minister, Susilo, a retired general, said
\nthat he would appoint a civilian to ensure continued reform in
\nthe military. That person, he said, would be someone who
\nunderstood problems about the civilian-military relationship,
\nespecially on \"how to place the military toward the perspectives
\nof democracy and human rights.\"<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would also pick figures representing the
\ncountry's two largest Muslim organizations Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, Susilo said with smile, \"It has
\nbecome a tradition to pick an NU member to fill the post of
\nminister of religious affairs ... but we'll see, I won't go to
\nextremes and ignore such common traditions.\"<\/p>\n
He added he would try to ensure that his ministerial line-up
\nwas complete before being sworn next Wednesday, Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that he was looking forward to meeting newly
\nreelected Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Malaysian
\nleader Ahmad Badawi, both of whom have announced plans to attend
\nhis swearing-in ceremony.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sby-asks-people-to-trust-him-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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