First Cabinet meeting a larning experience

First Cabinet meeting a larning experience

JAKARTA (JP): The first Cabinet plenary session on Wednesday
was a learning experience for all in attendance, not only because
of the numerous new faces but also because many present were
former political rivals.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was hesitant to enter
the meeting hall, eventually opting to wait for President
Abdurrahman Wahid and enter the venue with him.

According to protocol, the vice president should enter the
meeting hall before the president.

When a protocol official asked the Cabinet ministers to rise,
new ministers were quick to stand while more experienced Cabinet
members, including Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
and Security Gen. Wiranto, were slower to rise from their chairs.

When the President's voice became difficult to hear during the
meeting, Wiranto, who was seated to the right of Abdurrahman,
politely told him the microphone was located to his right.

"I thank all of you for your presence at this fist Cabinet
meeting," the President said in his introductory remarks. His
most trusted aide, daughter Zannuba "Yenni" Arifah Chafsof,
watched her father from a nearby seat.

According to tradition, the minister/state secretary is seated
to the President's right. During the meeting on Wednesday,
however, State Secretary Ali Rahman was seated next to Megawati.

Megawati smiled when Minister of Maritime Exploration Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja, who was seated in front of the Vice President,
bowed his head to her. Megawati attempted to acknowledge all of
the ministers, and directed a smile at Minister of Transportation
Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar.

Some 30 minutes before the President arrived at 9:15 a.m., 34
of the 35 Cabinet members already were at the meeting hall, but
many of them experienced some difficulty locating their seats.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan, who is on an
official visit to Saudi Arabia, was the only minister absent.

"Oh, this is a dangerous location," Attorney General Marzuki
Darusman joked when he mistakenly sat in the seat of Indonesian
Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S.

Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu, whose appointment was
widely opposed by labor activists, cautiously mingled with his
fellow ministers.

"We have the same fate," Bomer said as he greeted State
Minister of Environment Soni Keraf.

Soni's appointment was opposed by many non-governmental
organizations.

"I have to accept reality," Soni said when Bomer brought up a
newspaper report which ranked Soni as the poorest Cabinet
minister. The same report named Minister of Industry and Trade
Yusuf Kalla the richest on the Cabinet.

Minister of Forestry and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail
approached Bomer and complained about his ministerial pin, which
kept coming undone.

"Your problem is only the pin. But both of us have to face
demonstrators who oppose us," Bomer said, referring to Soni.

Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Prakosa said he wore his best
suit for the meeting. "Isn't this suit quite attractive," he
asked a journalist.

TNI chief Adm. Widodo was somewhat reserved with journalists.
Widodo, who was seated near his predecessor Wiranto, softly
answered journalists' questions and often winked at Wiranto as he
spoke.

Wiranto did not move from his seat as the ministers awaited
the arrival of the President and Vice President. When he was
approached by State Minister of Research and Technology A.S.
Hikam, Wiranto politely replied to Hikam's questions. Hikam, who
often criticized the military in television interviews, is most
likely not a new face to the general.

When asked about how he would go about expressing his views in
the Cabinet meeting, State Minister of Investment and State
Enterprises Development Laksamana Sukardi said: "I'm used to
being straight forward, but now I have to be more courteous."

The President joked he had two admirals in the Cabinet.
Laksamana is the Indonesian word for admiral.

It also was discovered not all of the ministers had moved into
their new offices. State Minister of Social Affairs Anak Agung
Gde Agung said the employees of the dissolved social affairs
ministry prevented him from entering his new office.

"His report to the President was wonderful, although he still
does not have an office," Ali Rahman joked. (prb)