House screens 20 envoy nominees

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Legislators have questioned what they say is the uneven composition of ambassadorial nominees -- between officials and non-officials of the foreign ministry -- citing an urgent need to deploy qualified ambassadors in order to improve the country's image overseas.

The ministry recently submitted 20 names of ambassadorial nominees to the House to undergo "fit and proper tests."

Of the 20 nominees, 17 are officials from the ministry and the other three are non-ministry figures.

Ambassadorial nominees do not necessarily have to be bureaucrats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, argue members of the House of Representatives Commission I on defense, security and foreign affairs.

Legislator Muhammad A.S. Hikam, who heads the foreign affairs working group in the Commission, said Indonesia was in dire need of new diplomats from outside the ministry who would be able to make fresh breakthroughs.

"It's a concern because only three people are from outside the ministry. According to a (non-written) agreement, 40 percent (of ambassadorial posts) are allocated for non-ministry candidates. We need people with fresh minds to make significant breakthroughs in boosting Indonesia's image in their country posts," he said on Friday.

Despite the agreement, Hikam said there would always be a "political game" that influenced the selection of nominees.

He added that another debated issue was the age limit of 60 years for ministry candidates. There is no limit, however, for non-ministry candidates.

"It would be better if the age limit age wasn't so old as being an ambassador really is a tough job that requires physical fitness and fresh ideas. I suppose it's about time the younger generation fill such posts," he said.

Hikam argued that ambassadors are in an important position to help lure investment and expand political networks.

A similar sentiment was also expressed by another commission member Djoko Susilo, who said it had to be considered that ambassadors are the country's political appointees and therefore, they should be the best available.

"They are our political appointees who will act on behalf of the government. Therefore, the nominees should be at the highest point of their lives.

"In regard to the composition of names submitted, I really think there are more qualified and renown figures outside the ministry who could have been nominated," said Djoko.

For example, he said, most ambassadors of the United States or Britain are renown figures from outside the foreign affairs ministry.

According to the Constitution, the President selects nominees to fill ambassadorial posts, who have to go through a fit and proper test at the House of Representatives. The 20 nominees will undergo examination from July 4 to July 5 during closed-door sessions.

The House can only make political recommendations based on their examinations, as it is the President who has the final say.

The 20 new appointees are expected fill posts in countries including Australia, Britain, Brunei Darussalam, China, France, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.