Habibie unveils 'reform' cabinet
Habibie unveils 'reform' cabinet
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie announced the line up of
his cabinet yesterday, reappointing 20 ministers from the
previous cabinet, and recruiting 16 new people.
In an apparent move to woo support from a wider section of the
public, Habibie included three politicians from the two minority
parties, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI).
The technology czar recruited more people from the academia.
Dropped were ministers from the previous cabinet often cited
by critics as symbolizing nepotism, collusion and corruption, or
those whose credibility and integrity were questioned.
Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and tycoon Bob
Hasan were among those left out of the new cabinet.
"We will build a clean and independent government free from
inefficiency, corruption, collusion and nepotism," Habibie said
when announcing his cabinet at the Merdeka Palace yesterday.
Among those he retained from the old cabinet are Gen. Wiranto
(security and defense) and Ali Alatas (foreign) as were all four
coordinating ministers. Ginandjar Kartasasmita remains head of
the government's economic team, while Bambang Subianto was
appointed as finance minister.
Among the new recruits from military were Lt. Gen. Syarwan
Hamid, deputy speaker of the House, as the powerful minister of
home affairs, replacing R. Hartono, and Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah as
head of the strategic ministry of information.
He appointed Akbar Tandjung, a seasoned politician who was
minister of people's housing in the old cabinet, as the powerful
minister/state secretary.
The new president wasted no time in putting together his team,
announcing it only a day after he took his oath of office to take
charge of the nation after Soeharto resigned.
He named his team the Reform-Development Cabinet.
He was visibly tired after a night long of meetings and phone
calls with those whom he intended to employ as his aides.
His voice was nevertheless firm, although it was interrupted
with coughs towards the end of the speech.
Jitters
First day jitters, or unfamiliarity with state protocols
showed. He signed off by saying that the decree was dated "May
22, 1992". When he realized his mistake, he smiled and corrected
the year to 1998. Afterwards, he paused for a few seconds and was
just starting to listen to a question posed by a foreign
journalist before his staff ushered him to make an exit.
The new cabinet will be sworn in today.
Habibie virtually kept intact the structure of the old
cabinet, with four coordinating ministers, 20 ministers with
portfolios and 12 state ministers.
The only major departure was the exclusion of the post of Bank
Indonesia governor from the line up.
He underscored the need to turn the central bank, now headed
by Governor Sjahril Sabirin, into an institution free from
government's interference, given its vital role in the economy.
There was no explanation about the exclusion Attorney General
post, in the past treated as part of the cabinet.
Habibie said he picked the ministers from the various
political and social forces to provide the needed synergy. This
way, he hoped the cabinet would be more accommodating to the
people's wishes for reform.
He said that in making his selection, he drew inspiration from
students and youths demanding for reforms.
Habibie did not elaborate on the cabinet's program, but said
that it would used the 1998 State Policy Guidelines, adjusted to
reflect on the changing aspirations of the people.
He said the government's priority was to boost people's
economic competitiveness by improving their skill and
productivity.
Habibie recruited Hamzah Haz and A.M. Saefuddin, both House of
Representatives from PPP, and Panangian Siregar of the PDI. This
is a major concession to the two minority political parties who
have long insisted that they should be included in the cabinet.
Adi Sasono, a staunch critic of President Soeharto and
secretary general of the influential Indonesian Moslem
Intellectual Association (ICMI), is one of the surprise choices.
Gen. Wiranto, who was present during the announcement, told
reporters afterwards that the nation should give the new cabinet
the chance to work and resolve the deep economic crisis.
Comments
The following are excerpts of comments from some ministers-
designate about their new appointment, as reported by Antara.
Lt. Gen. Syarwan promised to accelerate the democratization
process, but said that this is a process that takes time.
He said people should not pass judgement on the cabinet and on
Habibie's leadership before the government even began to work.
There must be a cooling down period, he said. "The condition
is so bad, you've got to give it a chance."
Hamzah Haz said his greatest is to woo back foreign investors
who had left the country because of the turmoil.
"I will do my best," Hamzah said.
Ida Bagus Oka said he was happy with the appointment and was
familiar with family planning issues given his background as
physician.
Adi Sasono said he would remove government regulations that
obstruct the development of cooperatives.
He said he had consulted with friends whether or not to accept
the offer to serve in the cabinet. "The easy answer of course was
to decline it," he said, adding that he accepted it because he
saw it as a challenge.
Yustika S. Baharsjah said she accepted the offer in spite of
the tough situation because she felt she could not turn her back
on the government. "That would be irresponsible," said Yustika,
who was minister of agriculture in the old cabinet.
Zuhal said he would feel at home working as Minister of
Research and Technology. "I've always been a scholar," he said.
Boediono said the cabinet should be given a chance.
"The economy cannot heal if you don't give the opportunity to
heal.
"The priority in our reform program is to get the economy
going again. The task of the cabinet is get it started."
Saefuddin said one way of meeting Indonesia's food needs was
for the government to cut back on spending.
"I'd propose that all cabinet ministers drive a Toyota Kijang
instead of a Volvo, which costs hundreds of millions of rupiah.
"That money could be used instead to subsidize the prices of
food for the people," he said. (prb/emb)