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)