Akbar officially transfers ministerial post to Muladi

Akbar officially transfers ministerial post to Muladi

JAKARTA (JP): Akbar Tandjung officially handed over his post
as minister/state secretary to Minister of Justice Muladi in a
ceremony at the State Palace on Wednesday.

President B.J. Habibie was at hand along with 35 members of
the Cabinet, but did not deliver a speech to mark the occasion.
He looked emotional when he hugged a tearful Akbar, who has
worked for him since he came to power in May last year.

The towering Muladi, who now holds two Cabinet positions,
laughed when Akbar embraced him.

"I believe Pak Muladi will be a better minister/state
secretary than I was," Akbar said.

The ceremony took place shortly after a Cabinet meeting on
welfare and poverty alleviation at the Bina Graha presidential
office. Akbar, who tendered his resignation on Monday, did not
attend the meeting, citing conflicting interests with his duties
as Golkar party chairman.

Akbar insisted that he first asked Habibie's permission to
leave the Cabinet when he was elected Golkar chairman in July
last year. "The President asked me to stay on in the Cabinet,"
Akbar asserted.

"From the beginning I said to myself that I would prefer to
resign from the Cabinet if the President asked me to choose one
of the two positions," Akbar added.

Akbar, who has already vacated his office in the state
secretariat, reiterated his belief that Habibie was Golkar's best
candidate for the presidency.

Golkar, which has ruled Indonesia since the 1971 election, is
holding a meeting to decide upon its presidential candidate.

Akbar is known as a shrewd politician who tries not to insult
anyone, even his most cynical opponents. He is receptive to
journalists, but often leaves his audience unsure as to exactly
what he was talking about, especially regarding sensitive issues.

"I have tried to be a good presidential spokesman," he said.

Akbar was unable to hide his disappointment with the decision
by the General Elections Commission (KPU) to bar Cabinet
ministers from campaigning for parties contesting the June
election.

He also said he was annoyed by allegations that he had misused
state facilities during tours in his capacity as Golkar chairman.

He conceded that he had on occasion chartered a plane, but
insisted that Golkar paid the bill, not the government.

"I never used government facilities if I was on a visit to
meet Golkar cadres. As state secretary I could easily have used
the presidential airplane," Akbar added.

After the ceremony, State Minister of Food and Horticulture
A.M. Saefuddin approached Akbar and his wife Krisnina Maharani
and congratulated Akbar on his decision.

"I hope you will become a good campaigner," Saefuddin joked.

"I fight for my party. Not like you, who let others do the
fighting for you," Akbar retorted.

Saefuddin, who is deputy chairman of the United Development
Party (PPP), announced recently that he would not leave his
ministerial post and had therefore decided not to campaign for
his party.

"But do not forget I am my party's provocateur. I have
designed the strategy which will lead my party to victory in the
election," he informed Akbar. (prb)