Habibie swears in reform cabinet

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)