Habibie swears in reform cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie swore in his cabinet yesterday, with some of the 36 cabinet members pledging to fight for political reform from within.

Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who retained his old job as coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry, stated his belief that a new general election should be carried out as soon as possible to form a new government.

"We need to have a new government with a new mandate from the people," he told reporters at his office just hours after he was sworn in by Habibie to head the government's economic team.

"Economic recovery cannot be achieved without a conducive political climate," he said.

Ginandjar said he and the other economic ministers had accepted their jobs because they felt that someone had to take care of the economy while the country worked toward reform.

But should the people wish for a different government, then, he said, he was ready to stand aside. "I'm prepared to be a minister for only one or two months if I have to," he said, adding that he and the other economic ministers had no intention of staying on until 2003, when Habibie's term in office ends.

Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fadjar said he had accepted Habibie's offer to serve in the cabinet on condition that the government would fight for reform as demanded by the people.

"If the government fails to accommodate these aspirations, then I would tender my resignation. That's my commitment," he told reporters after the handover ceremony from his predecessor Quraish Shihab.

Habibie was promoted from vice president on Thursday, after Soeharto announced his decision to step down as president amid pressure for him to introduce sweeping political reform.

The new President has since promised to pursue reform and named his 36-strong cabinet the Reform and Development Cabinet. However, he made no mention of any plan to call for an early general election and presidential election as demanded by many in the proreform movement.

Other senior members of the cabinet have also dismissed the need for a new presidential election.

Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, the new home affairs minister, said he hoped the cabinet would serve out the full term to 2003, although he knew that this would depend on its performance.

"The most important thing is that we work seriously, and hopefully we produce some results."

Syarwan, who was formerly deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said a meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly was needed to elect a new vice president.

"This could be suggested by the President or the House of Representatives," he told reporters after the swearing in ceremony at Merdeka Palace.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung, however, said that the President was prepared to listen to the reform leaders.

When asked whether this included their demands for an early election, Akbar said: "These aspirations will be studied."

He added that Habibie will preside over the first cabinet meeting Monday.

The new cabinet comprises four coordinating ministers, 20 ministers with portfolios, and 12 state ministers. Habibie retained 20 ministers from the old cabinet and recruited 16 new ministers, chiefly from the two minority political parties and the academia.

At the ceremony, 33 ministers took their oath on the Koran, two -- State Minister of Housing and Settlement Theo Sambuaga and State Minister of Environment Panangian Siregar -- took their oath on the Bible and State Minister of Population Ida Bagus Oka was accompanied by a Hindu monk.

They swore that they would not accept bribes, abuse their positions or extend special favors to certain people or groups.

Some of those present at the ceremony were also not sure whether the ministers would serve their full term to 2003.

"I am proud of my husband's appointment, but I don't know how long he can survive as a minister because the political situation is so volatile," the wife of one minister quipped to another wife standing next to her.

Also present were most ministers from the old cabinet who were dropped by Habibie. They include R. Hartono (home affairs), Wiranto Arismunandar (education and culture) and Mohamad "Bob" Hasan (industry and trade). Conspicuously absent was Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, the former social services minister who is also Soeharto's eldest daughter.

"Damn you," Bob Hasan said jokingly to journalists who congratulated him for managing to stay as long as two months in his old job.

After the ceremony, some of the new ministers were mobbed by journalists with questions.

Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah gave his assurances that he would maintain press freedom. "I will not disappoint the press world. I believe that the press is extremely vital for this nation," Yunus promised.

Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono, formerly a non-government organization activist and a staunch government critic, said he would encourage the public to criticize him now that he was on the opposite side.

"No one is perfect and everyone has the potential of making a mistake. We need supervision from outside, from the public."

State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin, one of two ministers recruited from the United Development Party, said he would continue using his Toyota Kijang rather than the Volvo limousine provided for cabinet members.

"I'd feel uneasy (riding in a Volvo) each time my car stopped at a traffic light," Saefuddin said.

A Palace official confirmed that each cabinet member would be issued with a Volvo but they would use old Volvos from the previous cabinet. (prb)