Analysts caution of split in Cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): A senior military officer and a political academician warned on Tuesday of possible conflicts of interest in the Cabinet, thanks to compromises President Abdurrahman Wahid agreed to during the recruitment of ministers.

Chief of Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi, Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, predicted the Cabinet would undergo its toughest test of solidarity in 2003, when political parties contested the general elections.

"The way the Cabinet maintains its teamwork may only last for two or three years because many ministers will be called up by their respective parties to prepare for the elections," Agus said in a discussion to evaluate President Abdurrahman's 50 days in office, organized by the University of Indonesia.

"This is a consequence of the June polls which did not produce any political party with a majority share of votes. It will be worse if the Cabinet members who come from different parties fail to shake off their political attributes," he added.

Shortly after his election as president, Abdurrahman formed a so-called coalition Cabinet made up of ministers from parties which finished among the top seven in the June general election plus the Indonesian Military.

A crack was evident when Abdurrahman announced twice that three of his 35 Cabinet ministers would quit for alleged corruption. Hamzah Haz, the coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty eradication, resigned last month, but both he and Abdurrahman denied that corruption was the cause of the departure.

Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid has also threatened to resign if calls for regional autonomy were not properly addressed.

House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung reiterated on Tuesday his demand that Abdurrahman disclose the names of the ministers. His remarks were feared to spark suspicion in the Cabinet, according to Akbar.

Another speaker at the seminar, political analyst Eep Syaefulloh Fatah, said early friction in the Cabinet was a result of Abdurrahman's preference for disregarding professional consideration when recruiting the ministers.

"Abdurrahman Wahid tends to base his choices on cronyism, rather than professionalism and competence," said Eep, who is a lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

State officials in the Cabinet under Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, also failed to work as a team, Eep added.

"The facts on the ground unveil that many departments are not working at all as they are still waiting for their ministers, who are supposed to determine new policies," he said.

He also criticized the President for keeping himself busy serving popular issues instead of addressing the basic problems of the nation.

Apart from the threats, both speakers agreed that the Cabinet faced heavy burdens in economic, social and political aspects. (emf)