Susilo Bambang denies rumors to resign from the cabinet<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono denied on Wednesday rumors that he will resign
\nfrom the cabinet for the sake of his presidential bid.<\/p>\n
He said he will continue working as a cabinet minister and
\nasserted that the rumors will not affect his state duties.<\/p>\n
\"I would like to clarify that the circulating rumor is
\nbaseless,\" Susilo said after a meeting with National Police chief
\nGen. Da'i Bachtiar to discuss, among other issues, terrorism and
\nsecurity preparations ahead of the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New
\nYear celebrations and the 2004 general election.<\/p>\n
Rumors of the minister's resignation have been rife since
\nSeptember, following an informal meeting with former president
\nB.J. Habibie in Germany on his way to the United States to attend
\nthe Antiterrorism Summit.<\/p>\n
The meeting sparked anger among executives of President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan), who suggested that the President dismiss Susilo
\nfrom the cabinet on the grounds that the German trip was
\nirrelevant to his state duties.<\/p>\n
The rumors resurfaced recently when PDI Perjuangan senior
\nmember AP Batubara said Susilo planned to quit the cabinet in
\nDecember this year, to focus on his presidential bid.<\/p>\n
Batubara claimed to have been informed by Susilo's aides.<\/p>\n
Apart from Susilo, fellow cabinet members Jusuf Kalla, Agum
\nGumelar and Yusril Ihza Mahendra, as well as Vice President
\nHamzah Haz, have expressed interest in contesting the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Some PDI Perjuangan members have said that the cabinet
\nministers could undermine Megawati's government if they do not
\nresign.<\/p>\n
While the others remain silent, Kalla, who is one of seven
\npresidential candidates representing Golkar, has said he will not
\nbow to such demands.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who refused to join the Golkar's convention to select
\nits presidential candidate, has received support from the
\nDemocrat Party and reportedly been approached by the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) to partner with Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman
\nof the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has proposed that the
\ndirect presidential election be held on July 5, with the expected
\nrun-off on Sept. 20.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-bambang-denies-rumors-to-resign-from-the-cabinet-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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