Susilo to ask ministers to sign contracts<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nBogor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Prospective president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday
\nhe would require all ministerial candidates to sign contracts
\nspelling out their commitment to state duties.<\/p>\n
\"I will summon more than one candidate (for a Cabinet
\nposition) and ask them to draw up a contract on their commitment.
\nThe process will be transparent and accountable,\" Susilo told
\nreporters after defending his thesis for a doctorate of
\nagroeconomics at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB).<\/p>\n
The country's previous leaders picked their ministers without
\nasking about their working programs and commitment to the
\nposition, Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, I will be very careful in setting the requirements
\nand selecting the best candidates for each ministerial post,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Selection is expected to begin soon after the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) announces on Thursday the outcome of
\nthe Sept. 20 election runoff. The provisional vote-count saw
\nSusilo maintain an unbeatable 20 percent lead over the incumbent,
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people attended Susilo's doctorate conferral
\nceremony presided over by Bunasor Sanim, an IPB agroeconomics
\nprofessor. A number of video screens were available outside the
\npacked hall for those who had no access to the event.<\/p>\n
Among the guests were Minister of National Education Abdul
\nMalik Fadjar, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Rokhmin
\nDahuri, Muslim leader Solahuddin Wahid, media mogul Surya Paloh,
\nsenior journalists Rosihan Anwar and Bambang Harymurti, lawyer
\nTodung Mulya Lubis, former coordinating minister for the economy
\nRizal Ramli, economists Mari Pangestu and Lin Che Wei, as well as
\npolitical expert Andi Mallarangeng.<\/p>\n
Some of them have been tipped to fill Susilo's Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Susilo's wife Kristiani Herawati, son Edi Baskoro Yudhoyono
\nand mother-in-law Sarwo Edhie Wibowo also witnessed the
\npresident-in-waiting receive his doctorate, which capped three
\nyears of study.<\/p>\n
The team of examiners awarded Susilo an excellent score for
\nhis defense of his dissertation, Agriculture and Rural
\nDevelopment as a Means to Overcome Poverty and Unemployment: An
\nEconomic and Political Analysis of Fiscal Policies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a number of women activists criticized Susilo for
\nignoring gender equality in allocating only four seats for women
\nin his Cabinet, which is expected to comprise 31 or 32 ministers.<\/p>\n
Among them are noted activists Saparinah Sadli, Herawati Diah,
\nRita Kolibonso, Smita Notosusanto, Atas Habsyah and Emmy Hafild.<\/p>\n
\"He should refrain from setting such a quota. Women deserve
\nthe same opportunities as men. Susilo must select his aides based
\non their professionalism, capabilities and track record, not by
\ngender,\" said Saparinah.<\/p>\n
Smita said women deserved a greater chance, as their votes had
\nsignificantly contributed to Susilo's victory.<\/p>\n
\"We don't beg for Cabinet positions. Women simply deserve
\nthem. It is he who must take the initiative,\" she said, adding
\nthat women activists would not pay a visit to Susilo without an
\ninvitation.<\/p>\n
They suggested that Susilo select women professionals for the
\nposts of education, health, and manpower and transmigration,
\namong others.<\/p>\n
Their suggested candidates include health expert Nafsiah Mboy,
\neducation expert Yayah Koswara, Muslim scholar Musdah Mulia and
\nrights campaigner Zoemrotin K. Soesilo.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-to-ask-ministers-to-sign-contracts-1447893297",
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