House screens ambassadorial nominees

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives began to screen on Monday 20 ambassadorial nominees, with some legislators predicting the three-day process would see the elimination of more than one foreign ministry official.

Legislators have questioned what they say is an uneven balance of foreign ministry officials versus nominees from outside the ministry.

Of the 20, 17 are officials from the ministry. The other three are former director general of defense strategy at the Ministry of Defense Maj. Gen.(ret) Sudrajat, who has been nominated to take up the post in China and Mongolia; top Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) executive Salim Segaf Al-Jufrie for Saudi Arabia and lawmaker from the Democratic Party Irzan Tanjung for the Philippines.

Legislator Djoko Susilo from the National Mandate Party (PAN), said most of the nominees from the foreign ministry had mediocre diplomatic skills.

"Nothing stands out -- and they are not what we are looking for, that is to be a good salesman (for the country)," he said on Monday.

Djoko said some of the nominees were unfamiliar with the policymaking process.

"Some of them, including the ones who just had their presentation, are incapable of comprehending a multi-track diplomacy ... that is to be actively in touch with the executive power, civil organizations and the legislature," he argued.

Furthermore, he said, many of the nominees would soon be eligible for a pension, which could disturb their performance.

Djoko said it was more than likely the House would reject a few of the nominees from the foreign ministry due to their unimpressive track records.

"In the past, the president has eventually agreed with our recommendations, including if we rejected the nominees," he said.

In accordance with the Constitution, the House screens ambassadorial nominees, and makes its recommendations to the President.

A recommendation can either be a full endorsement, endorsement but for another destination country or rejection.

Legislator Muhammad A.S. Hikam said several nominees, particularly from the foreign ministry, were not up to scratch.

"The possibility of rejection is are always there. We have several parameters to grade the nominees, such as communication skills, knowledge on the destination country and health," he added.

Among the 20 nominees are those for posts in the United States, China, France, Australia and the United Kingdom.

For the U.S. post, the nominee is Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat -- former envoy for Australia and the present ministry secretary-general -- to replace Soemadi DM Brotodiningrat.

For Australia, the nominee is Acehnese Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb who currently heads the ministry's directorate for East Asia and the Pacific to replace Imron Cotan.

Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, who was active as a member of the Indonesian delegations in the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is nominated to fill the post in the UK.