Finance Minister Bambang wants to retain his job

Finance Minister Bambang wants to retain his job

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo hinted on
Saturday that he still wanted to retain his position in the
Cabinet to allow him to accomplish his unfinished works.

"I have many important works in the Ministry of Finance
particularly in connection with adjusting the state budget in
line with the inter-governmental fiscal law," he told reporters
after attending a ceremony at the Mada University (UGM).

Bambang, who was a senior lecturer in the economics department
at the university before being appointed as the finance minister,
said implementation of the new law should not be delayed in order
to reduce the financial gap between the central government and
provincial administrations.

The law, which will be effective beginning next year, also
regulates the distribution of state funds among regencies in a
province.

However, when asked if he had the chance to maintain his
position in the planned Cabinet reshuffle, Bambang said that he
was not sure.

The media has speculated that the finance minister would
follow Coordinating Minister for Economy and Trade Kwik Kian
Gie's resignation move.

"I would still be willing to join the new Cabinet but it would
depend on what portfolio the President offered me," he told
reporters following a meeting with his political mentor and
Speaker of the People's Legislative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais.

On the same occasion, political analyst Prof. Ichlasul Amal
asserted that it was President Abdurrahman Wahid who had the
right to judge Bambang's performance and to decide whether
Bambang should remain in his current post or not.

Amal, who is also rector of Gadjah Mada University, said that
the university would not be disappointed if Bambang was excluded
from the Cabinet. "UGM has nothing to do with the election of
Bambang as finance minister."

The Association of Indonesian Economists (ISEI) suggested in a
letter sent to the President on Friday that Bambang be retained
as finance minister.

ISEI said that Bambang had worked hard to introduce the
regional economic policy and retaining him would facilitate the
smooth implementation of the policy.

But many financial experts said that Bambang should be
replaced because he lacked experiences and knowledge in
macroeconomics.

According to Bank Indonesia's acting governor Anwar Nasution,
as an accountant, Bambang would be more suitable to lead the
Indonesia Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). (44/hen)