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.