Kesowo's Cabinet post to change

Kesowo's Cabinet post to change

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With President Megawati Soekarnoputri's approval of a proposal
to separate his office, State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo
appears set to have his power reduced.

Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) -- and Megawati confidant -- Roy B.B. Janis
revealed the plan to set up a cabinet secretariat after a Tuesday
meeting with the president.

"If the party has picked candidates to fill in the (new) post,
then please," Roy quoted Megawati as saying. He added, however,
that party officials had not, so far, named any candidates.

The two held talks regarding the party's proposal on the
separation of the state secretariat after a weekly party meeting
presided over by Megawati, who is the party's chairman.

Since December, Bambang has proposed a new organizational
structure for the state secretariat that would keep the current
two functions in one hand.

Megawati has yet to endorse the new structure.

Roy said that PDI Perjuangan suggested the President appoint
another person to take up cabinet secretariat jobs for the sake
of effectiveness.

"Currently, many Cabinet ministers have complained about the
delay of many coordination meetings because of the unification of
the two functions," Roy said.

Bambang, who served as vice president secretary when Megawati
was vice president, was promoted to State/Cabinet Secretary in
Megawati's cabinet in August. At that time, the President said
she would later appoint a cabinet secretary.

Having two functions under his belt, Bambang has the authority
to propose guests or activities for the president, along with the
ability to conduct administrative work in cabinet meetings.

In addition, he can have a hand in presidential decrees and
other government regulations.

In the past, the administrative work went to the cabinet
secretary.

Bambang prepared the President's speeches, official trips, and
other day to day administrative duties while she was received her
guests, until Megawati named Presidential Secretary Kemal Munawar
two months ago.

Kemal's job mostly related to protocol affairs, including
arranging meetings between the President and her guests.

Some of the PDI Perjuangan members have criticized Bambang for
being "overprotective" of the president.

There have been reported disputes between Bambang and the
President's husband Taufik Kiemas, a PDI Perjuangan legislator,
since the beginning of Megawati's tenure as President.

Meanwhile, Taufik, a businessman, donated more cars to
presidential security guards to support their mobility in
conducting their duties.

After delivering 22 Hyundai sedans to support the guards'
duties last week, Taufik brought them six minivans on Tuesday.

He said that he bought all the vehicles using his own money
from the dozens of gas stations he owns across the capital.

Earlier, Taufik had donated four brand-new computers to the
press room at the Presidential Palace in addition to furnishing
some rooms at the Palace compound.