Gus Dur says three more ministers could resign

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid suggested on Saturday that three of his ministers allegedly involved in graft would be better off resigning rather than risk being dragged to court.

He claimed that the Attorney General's Office was investigating the ministers involved and if there was sufficient evidence the president said he would directly ask them to resign.

Without identifying who they were, Abdurrahman said the attorney general could push for a trial.

Speaking to reporters, Abdurrahman said that a minister tried by a court would be suspended, and if found guilty would lose his Cabinet post.

"Or there is another way that means not dragging it through court, which is resigning," the President said

"The egg has hatched. Pak Hamzah Haz has resigned, that's that. The others can also resign if they want. An excuse can always be found, that's easy," he said without elaborating.

"You know secretly that there is another three candidates (for resignation) ... whom, after I receive evidence from Attorney General Marzuki (Darusman), I will summon (and ask) 'do you want to resign or not? Here is the evidence'."

Rumors of investigations into several ministers has been swirling for over a month.

The sudden resignation of former coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty eradication Hamzah Haz raised suspicion as to Hamzah's possible involvement in graft despite repeated denials by the United Development Party chairman.

The Attorney General's Office is reportedly conducting an investigation into several minister allegedly involved in graft.

The names of two of the initial ministers supposedly being investigated were Hamzah and Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

Abdurrahman recently announced Yusril was currently not being investigated.

Abdurrahman's remarks on Saturday came as he responded to journalists' questions about Minister of Industry and Trade Jusuf Kalla, who was also rumored of being investigated.

"I just follow what the attorney general says," he replied.

He met the media after the official announcement of the lineup for the National Economic Council headed by Emil Salim. Saturday was Abdurrahman's first day back in office after a three-day visit to China.

As if trying to deflect controversy away from himself, Abdurrahman, in full candor, said the Cabinet composition was the result of "horse-trading", with some ministers selected whom he hardly even knew.

"There are ministers that I just met, that I don't know ... It was horse-trading to the fullest".

Abdurrahman has said he accepted many based on recommendations and "guarantees" from people like People's Consultative Assembly Speaker and "axis force" protagonist Amien Rais, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, then Indonesian Military commander Gen. Wiranto and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

But his latest revelation indicated that he would have preferred not to have many of them in his 35-member Cabinet.

"So Pak Amien, Pak Akbar, Pak Wiranto, Mbak Mega and myself were trading cattle, thus as a result you have a Cabinet like this. Originally the Cabinet only comprised 18 people and I carefully selected them," he claimed.

"This is what it's like to sell cows," he said metaphorically.

"In the past it was great because you had the market to yourself, but now you have to trade with others".

When queried on the possibility of a presidential pardon, Abdurrahman retorted: "I will only ask for clemency for two people: Pak Harto and Pak Habibie".

Abdurrahman also lauded his successive trips overseas.

He claimed that he had gained many economic commitments both in terms of investment and a team to help look into Indonesia's economic plight.

He noted that a Japanese delegation led by former deputy foreign minister Noburo Matsunaga would be arriving soon while Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong would be arriving here with a group of businessmen on Dec. 14.

Abdurrahman also claimed that Israel had "quietly" agreed to invest US$200 million in Indonesia.

"But I called them and they themselves agreed not to directly invest, but rather do it through a third party. They agreed to do it through a Dutch or U.S. company," he said without elaborating.

This latest revelation could spark further controversy as there was widespread protests when Abdurrahman initially expressed a desire to open trade ties with Israel.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state because Indonesia supports the Palestinian state. (mds/prb)