Gus Dur taps Taufik for deputy chief justice

JAKARTA (JP): While the fate of the nation's next chief justice remains up in the air, President Abdurrahman Wahid has had no hesitation in appointing Taufik as deputy chief justice.

There was no immediate explanation on Abdurrahman's selection of Taufik over Abdurrahman Saleh who was the other candidate nominated by the House of Representatives.

The appointment was made official by Presidential Decree No. 18/M signed on Monday. The swearing in ceremony is due to be held on Wednesday.

Taufik, 62, has served in the supreme court since 1992.

Candidates for both the deputy and the chief justice of the supreme court were nominated by the House with two nominations being forwarded to the President for each position.

The selection of the deputy chief justice has been relatively free of controversy in comparison to the nomination of Muladi and Bagir Manan as chief justice.

The President has yet to make a decision with presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar even saying that Abdurrahman was not enthusiastic about the nomination of either of them due to their past links with the New Order.

Muladi was a former New Order justice minister and Bagir, now a constitutional law professor at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, also served as a senior official during the presidency of B.J. Habibie.

Abdurrahman has stated that he prefers Benjamin Mangkoedilaga for the post.