Cabinet has plenty of academic power

JAKARTA (JP): Question: How many professors does the new cabinet have? Answer: 11, if one includes President B.J. Habibie.

The cabinet has plenty of academic power to tackle the daunting tasks ahead but only time will tell whether they can handle them.

President Habibie is a professor, doctor and engineer, while the other professors in the cabinet are Muladi, Rahardi, Soleh, Farid, Juwono, Malik, Yustika, I.B. Oka, Ginandjar and Haryono.

Sixteen hold doctorate degrees: Bambang, Muladi, Rahardi, Soleh, Kuntoro, Muslimin, Farid, Juwono, Yustika, Boediono, Zuhal and Saefuddin. Six hold a master's degree: Giri, Marzuki, Tanri, Hendro, Juwono and Malik. And there are three medical doctors: Farid, I.B. Oka and Panangian.

Rahardi and Hendropriyono both have four titles each. Hendroprijono has five with his Army rank of lieutenant general.

Other tidbits about the cabinet are:

* There are 16 new faces and 20 old faces in the cabinet. Of the 20 old faces, four take new portfolios: Akbar (previously housing), Rahardi (research), Juwono (environment), Yustika (agriculture), Theo (manpower).

* There are two women: Yustika, Tutty.

* Six are drawn from the military circle: Gen. (ret.) Feisal, Vice Air Marshal (ret.) Ginandjar, Gen. Wiranto, Lt. Gen. Syarwan, Lt. Gen. Hendropriyono Lt. Gen. Yusuf.

* Another six from the political arena: Akbar, Agung and Theo (Golkar), Hamzah and Saefuddin (PPP), Panangian (PDI).

* Civil servants fill 13 of the positions: Haryono, Hartarto, Alatas, Bambang, Rahardi, Giri, Kuntoro, Muslimin, Marzuki, Rachmadi, Zuhal, Boediono, Malik.

* Five stem from academia: Soleh, Juwono, Muladi, Farid, Yustika.

* Three from the business sector: Fahmi, Tanri, Agung.

* Two herald from NGOs: Adi, Tutty

* And two former governors fill the ranks: Hasan, I.B. Oka. (emb)