Cabinet room deserted for campaign season

Cabinet room deserted for campaign season

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Since the start of the 22-day election campaign on March 11, the
Cabinet has gone into virtual hibernation, with President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz and a number of
senior ministers devoting most of their energies to pressing the
flesh.

Both the presidential and vice presidential offices are now
rarely visited by their occupants, even when they are actually in
the capital. Apparently, campaigning takes precedence over the
affairs of state.

"We are unable to get any new regulations out as we cannot
hold Cabinet meetings due to the absence of most ministers," one
senior official at the state secretariat told The Jakarta Post on
Wednesday.

The State Palace and the State Secretariat, which is located
next to the palace, have been eerily quiet of late. State/Cabinet
Secretary Bambang Kesowo, who usually arrives very early at his
office, was seen entering the complex around noon.

"There's not much to do as the President is not around," one
of his staffers told the Post.

The finalization of many regulations and bills has been put on
hold due to the election campaign, including a proposed
government regulation in lieu of law on illegal logging, the
amendment of the regional autonomy law and a final decision on
Kampar regent Jefri Noer's possible dismissal.

A Cabinet meeting is needed to make the final decisions on
these issues. However, as many Cabinet members are on the
campaign trial, the discussions have had to be postponed.

As the Cabinet members came from different political parties,
the government is required to allow them to campaign for their
respective parties.

As provided for by Government Regulation No. 19/2004 on
campaigning by state officials and officeholders, the President
and Vice President are entitled to take 10 days of leave for
campaigning purposes.

Megawati is the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI-P), while Hamzah is the chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP).

Although they are supposed to be taking turns on leave, both
of them are normally away from their offices. Only one Cabinet
meeting was chaired by Megawati last week -- a limited Cabinet
meeting to review the regional autonomy law.

Hamzah was in his office on Wednesday, receiving guests, but
this was a rare appearance at work for the Vice President.

Aside from the President and Vice President, nine ministers
are also currently campaigning for their respective political
parties.

"I've always questioned the decision to allow ministers to
campaign, because, for me, this will obviously interfere with
their official duties," State Minister for National Development
Planning Kwik Kian Gie said.

Kwik, a PDI-P executive, said he had refused to take part in
campaigning despite a party order requiring him to do so.