Cabinet lineup is the talk of the town

JAKARTA (JP): Names disappeared as quickly as they came yesterday as politicians, scholars, journalists and diplomats exchanged gossip about the lineup of the new cabinet.

President Soeharto, reappointed for a seventh five-year term Wednesday, is expected to announce the formation of the Seventh Development Cabinet tomorrow morning.

Talk no longer focused on criteria for the next cabinet as it did a few days ago. Most people were only interested in names, their background, and their sponsors.

The visitors' list at Soeharto's Jl. Cendana residence was combed for clues as it might have indicated that the head of state wanted to discuss the guests appointment into the cabinet.

Three ministers from the outgoing cabinet -- Hartarto, Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Saadillah Mursjid -- went to Jl. Cendana separately yesterday and, not unexpectedly, none were willing to disclose the content of their discussions with Soeharto to journalists.

In normal times, they would have been expected to automatically talk to reporters and disclose what Soeharto had told them.

When journalists teasingly extended congratulations, Hartarto, the outgoing coordinating minister for production and distribution, latched on to their ploy and simply smiled back.

He left journalists puzzled when he told his driver to sit in the back of the car as he took the wheel himself and drove away.

Ginandjar, the outgoing state minister of national development planning, was just as tightlipped about his meeting, but when asked about his future plans, he said: "I'm always ready to assist him (Soeharto)."

Saadillah, the outgoing minister/cabinet secretary, did not even give a hint of a clue when he left.

Soeharto has also been known to have simply phoned people he wanted to serve in his cabinet in the past.

While naming the cabinet is the constitutional prerogative of the president, various lists have surfaced in the past week giving names likely to be included.

Some of these lists were so bizarre they were unbelievable.

One, for example, puts Sudomo, the former chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, as minister of religious affairs on account of his conversions from Islam to Christianity and back to Islam. And how about Dorce Gamalama, the famous entertainer who had a sex-change operation, for the post of state minister of women's roles.

However, with the cabinet announcement imminent, the names of particular people for certain posts has been narrowed down, indicating some agreements, although not necessarily deals, between their supposed sponsors.

As in the past, Soeharto is expected to retain some of the ministers from the old cabinet, particularly those who have performed well, and bring in fresh faces from the Armed Forces, the bureaucracy, Golkar, academia and business.

Some of the members of the former cabinet can be eliminated straight away by virtue of their age and the number of times they have served, while others by virtue of their poor or mediocre performance. Very few ministers have served three terms in the past.

Some ministers from the previous cabinet have already indicated they do not expect to be included.

Moerdiono, the powerful minister/state secretary, bade farewell yesterday to journalists and the President's staff on Jl. Cendana and at the State Secretariat.

Moerdiono, who has served in three successive terms in the cabinet in different postings, thanked them for their cooperation and said that he might not return.

Tarmizi Taher, the outgoing minister of religious affairs, indicated that he would not be serving in the cabinet anymore.

"I want to be a da'i (a Moslem propagator), which is what I was before. I could even be a da'i for the Association of Indonesian Journalists," he joked to journalists at his office.

The gossip, swapped at cocktail parties or by faxes and e- mails yesterday, naturally revolved around the most important posts in the cabinet.

For foreign minister, incumbent Ali Alatas remains the pundits' favorite, although he has served two five-year terms. He is followed in the rankings by Juwono Sudarsono, the deputy chairman of the National Resilience Institute, and senior diplomat Nana Sutresna.

Most speculate the defense portfolio will be given as an additional job to ABRI Chief Gen. Wiranto. His predecessor Feisal Tanjung is expected to become coordinating minister for political and security affairs.

R. Hartono will probably be moved to the home affairs ministry although others have suggested former Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja. The Ministry of Information, is expected to be given to Alwi Dahlan, who has headed the government's agency for the teaching of Pancasila courses, according to the rumors.

Saadillah is expected to move up to the important post of state secretary.

Soeharto's economic team is expected to bring in some new faces, including Fuad Bawazier, currently director general of Taxes, and Tanri Abeng, president of the Bakri Group. Ginandjar will remain in the economic team as will Hartarto.

Rumors were also rife yesterday about the inclusion of Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Soeharto's oldest daughter, and timber tycoon Mohammad (Bob) Hasan, as minister of social services and minister of industry and trade respectively.

Bob Hasan, Soeharto's golf buddy who was present at the state dinner hosted by the President at the Jakarta Convention Center last night, responded when journalists extended congratulations: "What congratulations? I haven't even received the call yet."

Outgoing population minister Haryono Suyono, also greeted teasing journalists at the dinner, saying: "Sure I'll see you guys again next week .. at some restaurant." (team)