Environment minister installs 7 deputies

JAKARTA: State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar installed seven new deputies at a ceremony here on Thursday.

Those inaugurated included deputy environment minister for environmental planning Arie Djunardi Djuhana, deputy minister for pollution control Moh. Gempur Adnan, and deputy minister for natural resource conservation and environmental impact control Masnellyarti.

Also installed were deputy environment minister for hazardous and poisonous substances and waste management Yanuardi Rasudin, deputy minister for environmental management Hoetomo, deputy minister for environmental communications and community empowerment Sudarijono, as well as deputy minister for infrastructure development and capacity building Isa Karmisa Ardiputra.

All of them are not new to the environment ministry, and Rachmat said it was just a tour of duty among top officials and that he was satisfied with their work.

"I can't find any better candidates. They are the best," he said when asked why he did not appoint new deputies from outside his office.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by former environment minister Panangian Siregar, officials and staff. (004)