Agum may retain ministerial post

JAKARTA: After losing the July 5 race, vice presidential candidate Agum Gumelar of the United Development Party (PPP) may resume his job as minister of transportation.

Deputy Cabinet secretary Erman Radjagukguk said on Thursday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri had not dismissed Agum, but merely suspended him to allow him to contest the presidential election.

"The terms 'suspension' and 'dismissal' are different. But it's up to the President whether she will allow him (Agum) to return to the Cabinet or not," Erman told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Agum was suspended in accordance with Regulation No. 18/2003, which stipulates that any minister officially declared a presidential candidate by the General Elections Commission (KPU) must be nonactive.--JP