I'm not a civil servant: Harmoko

I'm not a civil servant: Harmoko

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko has finally responded to criticism that his job as chairman of Golkar, the largest political organization, represents a conflict of interests.

Harmoko said both jobs are political appointments and therefore do not pose any problem.

"A minister is a political appointment. It's not a civil service appointment," Harmoko said during a meeting with leaders of the Association of Islamic Students in Surabaya on Monday, Antara reported.

"I became a minister not because I'm with the civil service. But because I was appointed," said Harmoko, a former journalist who first joined the cabinet of President Soeharto in 1983.

His appointment as chairman of Golkar in 1992 came as a major surprise given that the position had hitherto been held by figures with a military background. Critics of the minister, including some in the House of Representatives, said the two jobs could potentially represent a clash of interests.

But Harmoko pointed out on Monday that both are political appointments. "There shouldn't be any problem."

He drew an analogy with U.S. President Bill Clinton, who also heads the Democrats party, and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who chairs the ruling United Malay National Organization party.

"The problem is not in holding the two jobs, but in the way one divides his time between the two jobs," he said.

Harmoko said in his case, he devotes his time for Golkar during the weekend or in the evenings during the weekdays.

"Today, Monday, I came to the Association of Islamic Students as the information minister. I will later proceed to Magetan, also as a minister. But last Saturday and Sunday, I was touring Probolinggo, Jember and Lumajang as Golkar chairman." (emb)