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)