Cabinet remains solid, palace spokesman says
JAKARTA (JP): Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar asserted on Thursday that the Cabinet remained sound despite reports of widening political differences between President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Wimar played down the President's decision to leave a three- hour Cabinet meeting held on Thursday morning after only having attended it for one hour, as well as the absence of key Cabinet member, Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Palace officials explained that Susilo was absent because he attended a seminar organized by the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas).
Wimar revealed that the President had to leave the meeting because he had another important meeting at his official residence, Merdeka Palace.
Revealing that he was asked by the President to make the statement, Wimar also said that the Cabinet members continued their discussion under Megawati's leadership.
"The ministers worked diligently under the Vice President's competent leadership," Wimar said.
Using a golf cart, State Secretary Djohan Effendi left Bina Graha presidential office not long after the President's departure. State Minister for Research and Technology Muhammad A.S. Hikam rushed to his car although most journalists were unaware of his departure.
While most Cabinet members were reluctant to talk to journalists, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih remained congenial.
"We had a very serious meeting," Bungaran said.
As usual, Megawati only smiled and left the presidential office speechless.
Compared to the security arrangements for Abdurrahman, security officers and protocol officials appeared to be busier when preparing for Megawati's arrival and departure.
The relationship between Abdurrahman and Megawati has reportedly worsened after her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supported the second memorandum of censure against the President and took the initiative of planning a meeting between seven political parties. It has been suggested that the group may discuss possible moves to impeach the President.
Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi reiterated that the country's largest Muslim organization was fully behind the beleaguered President, who is Hasyim's predecessor.
Hasyim said he was also scheduled to meet with about 600 NU kyais in Sidoarjo, East Java, later in the day to discuss the latest political developments.
He denied earlier reports that some NU senior ulemas had asked Abdurrahman to relinquish the presidency and blamed the media for misquoting the religious leaders.
"There are reports saying that some NU kyais are already prepared for Gus Dur to resign. However, all of those reports are incorrect," Hasyim said.
Abdul Hamid Baidlowi, the head of a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Rembang, Central Java, was reported as saying that it would be better if the President resigned immediately because he would not be able to improve the performance of his administration, as demanded by the House of Representatives.
The ulema also criticized the President for his reluctance in heeding advice.
Hasyim also denied reports that Fuad Hasyim, the head of Pondok Buntet Islamic boarding school in Cirebon, West Java, and influential cleric Abdullah Faqih of Langitan Islamic boarding school in Tuban, East Java, had approved of Abdurrahman's early resignation.
"Both Pak Faqih and Pak Fuad have confirmed with me that they have never been interviewed about Gus Dur's resignation," Hasyim stated.
Hasyim also repeated his appeal for the country's top leaders to reach a rational compromise in a bid to end the current political tension.
"We encourage the political elite to reach a compromise. As to how it will be reached is fully up to them," Hasyim stated. (02/byg/prb)