Envoy candidate list submitted

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) said on Monday that it had received a list of candidates vying for ambassador posts overseas from President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ibrahim Ambong, the chairman of House Commission I for foreign affairs, refused to reveal any of the names or the times when the government would submit the list.

The decision to keep tightlipped over the names of the candidates was made to protect the identities of the candidates so that their careers would still be intact if they failed the fit and proper test.

All candidates wishing to fill ambassador posts overseas are required to undergo a fit and proper test by the House, during which they have to present their views on how he or she could boost relations with the host country.

The government has complained about the policy, saying that the House had slowed the appointment process.

Despite their protest, Ambong said his commission would carry out a fit and proper test on those candidates. --JP