Envoy candidate list submitted

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