Wahid's new team<\/p>\n
Despite high hopes that President Abdurrahman Wahid's new
\ngovernment would herald a complete break with the past, it was
\ninevitable that a handful of the old guard would receive a place.<\/p>\n
Previous regimes included some highly competent ministers, in
\naddition to those tainted with the corruption and cronyism of the
\nSuharto regime. Those figures are now, to the electorate's
\nrelief, consigned to the wilderness.<\/p>\n
Of the old order, it is General Wiranto's role that prompts
\nmost questions. Until the government is established, it is hard
\nto know how much influence he can exert as minister for political
\nand security affairs; but the power of the military has certainly
\nbeen curtailed.<\/p>\n
Even with four members of ex-president Suharto's cabinet in
\nthe new line-up, an element of political compromise is an
\nimprovement on Suharto's approach. Under his patronage, jobs were
\nawarded on the basis of personal loyalty.<\/p>\n
Mr. Wahid has started by breaking the mold of politics by
\ncreating several new jobs, some of which have yet to be defined.
\nWith several untried figures in his cabinet from across the
\npolitical divide, he may have created a rainbow coalition that
\nwill blossom under an atmosphere of consensus-building and
\ncompromise.<\/p>\n
But with a shattered country to rebuild and a population
\nimpatient for progress, there is not much time for an
\ninexperienced administration to grow into the job.<\/p>\n
And though the appointment of an ethnic Chinese as
\ncoordinating minister for economics and finance may reassure the
\nChinese community, Kwik Kian Gie's experience comes mainly from
\nrunning a business school.<\/p>\n
Managing an economy in disarray will be a fiery baptism.
\nMr. Wahid will need all his leadership skills to mold his
\ndisparate cabinet into a team, but overall he has made a good
\nstart.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's democratic credentials are restored, and the
\nfuture is all to play for.<\/p>\n
-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wahids-new-team-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }