Habibie 'satisfied' with Saefuddin

Habibie 'satisfied' with Saefuddin

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has refused to bow to
mounting pressure that he dismiss State Minister of Food and
Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin over the latter's offensive remarks
about Hinduism, a minister indicated on Monday.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said the President had
told him that he did not have any plans to reshuffle the cabinet
despite Balinese demands that he replace Saefuddin.

"As far as I know, the President is satisfied with the
performance of all his ministers," Akbar said after meeting
Habibie at Merdeka Palace.

Supreme Advisory Council chairman A.A. Baramuli said on Sunday
that he would propose the replacement of Saefuddin to the
President for his offensive remarks about Hinduism.

Before attending a weekly cabinet meeting two weeks ago, the
vocal Saefuddin said he had a better chance of becoming the
country's next president than the chairwoman of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri because
she was a Hindu.

He said predominantly Moslem Indonesia was not be ready to be
led by a Hindu. Megawati is in fact a Moslem, but Saefuddin
pointed out that she had been pictured several times praying in
Hindu temples in Bali.

Megawati has kept her silence thus far, but Saefuddin's
statement sparked much anger in Bali. Bali Governor Dewa Made
Beratha met with the President last week to deliver the people's
demand that Saefuddin be punished.

The President told the governor to convey his apology and
regrets to the Balinese, and assured him he had warned Saefuddin
not to repeat such a mistake.

"We cannot prohibit people from making such a demand, but
(they) should be proportional," Akbar noted.

I Nyoman Japa, the coordinator of a series of protests on the
tourism island last week, had threatened to organize a massive
strike in the province on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to coincide with
the Youth Day.

Also on Monday, about 175 traditional leaders from various
regencies marched to the Bali legislative council to again drive
home their message that Saefuddin be sacked.

In their statement, read out by I Nyoman Subrata, they said:
"The President must remove Saefuddin from his ministerial post
and take him to court."

Antara quoted council speaker I Ketut Sundria as promising to
convey their message to the central government.

During Soeharto's 32 years in power, many people believed the
country's president had to be a Moslem, Javanese and an Army
general. Habibie is a Moslem, a native of South Sulawesi and a
civilian. (prb)