Habibie appoints loyal aide to head Bakin

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has promoted his loyal advisor Lt. Gen. (ret.) Zaini Azhar Maulani to replace Moetojib as head of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin), a minister said on Friday.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said the replacement of Moetojib was merely routine because he had held the position for three years.

Akbar dismissed speculation that Moetojib's failure to give accurate reports on the current wave of student demonstrations was the main reason for his replacement.

He praised Maulani's vision and impressive military record, and said he was the right person for the key post.

"The choice is correct, especially in facing this era of openness and globalization," Akbar said.

Bakin is directly under the President's supervision and falls under the State Secretariat administratively. The serving minister/state secretary traditionally swears in new Bakin heads.

The board's main responsibility is to monitor foreign affairs and developments.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) has its own intelligence body, the BIA, which is in charge of monitoring the domestic security situation.

Lt. Gen. (ret) Moetojib, 58, had held the position since April 1996.

Reliable sources said on Thursday that it was quite natural that Habibie preferred Bakin to be headed by his own trusted aide, especially since as a civilian he did not know much about the secretive agency.

Maulani was born on Jan. 6, 1939, in Marahaban, South Kalimantan, to Dayak parents.

The most memorable position of his long military career was when he was promoted to lead the Tanjungpura Military Command which oversees his native Kalimantan. He held the post, his last military position, from 1988 to 1991. Thereafter he was appointed secretary general in the Ministry of Transmigration, a post which he held until 1995.

During his period of active military service, Maulani was deemed one of ABRI's most promising officers as a result of his intellectual capability.

He served as Habibie's advisor when he was state minister of research and technology and he also became a military columnist.

Maulani was then appointed secretary to the vice president, a job he kept even after Habibie replaced president Soeharto in May. He received the honorary title of lieutenant general (ret) in April. (prb)