Legislators pledge support for new Cabinet

Legislators pledge support for new Cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR)
and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) threw their weight
behind the new gotong royong (mutual help) Cabinet under
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung assured that the Cabinet had the
full support of the legislature while MPR speaker Amien Rais
praised the new Cabinet lineup as "highly positive".

"The composition of the Cabinet is in line with what people
had generally hoped for," said Akbar, who is also chairman of the
Golkar Party, whose faction at the DPR is the second largest
after that of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P).

He added that he was happy with the balance in the new
Cabinet, which was divided equally between politicians and
professionals.

Akbar was speaking at a media briefing held shortly after the
announcement of the new Cabinet lineup, which was witnessed on
television by about 50 journalists and several Golkar Party
members in Akbar's office at DPR.

Shouts of joy greeted the naming of three Golkar Party members
by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, namely Jusuf Kalla as
coordinating minister for people's welfare affairs, Syamsul
Mu'arif as the state minister of communications and information
and Sri Redjeki Soemarjoto as the state minister of women's
empowerment. Also in the room were Golkar Party members' Bomer
Pasaribu and Setya Novanto.

Syamsul is Golkar Party's faction chief in the DPR while Sri
Redjeki is secretary-general of the House.

Both Akbar and Syamsul kissed Sri Redjeki good luck
immediately after the announcement.

"I'm very happy that the President has bestowed great trust on
several Golkar Party members and we give our full support to this
Cabinet. We hope this Cabinet can work together as a team as it
is named gotong royong (mutual help)," Akbar said.

Akbar said that Golkar had recommended several former Cabinet
ministers, such as former minister of mines and energy Purnomo
Yusgiantoro, for the new Cabinet.

"Ibu President responded to our suggestions really well,"
Akbar added.

Separately, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais told a joint Assembly
leaders' media conference that he was personally disappointed
because one of his candidates, Bambang Sudibyo, failed to reenter
the Cabinet. Bambang was nominated for the post of finance
minister.

"But I am quite happy as the much-awaited Cabinet has finally
been formed. I have to advance the nation's interests. I'm sure
that the people, the market as well as related foreign countries
will welcome this positively," said Amien, who is also the
chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

The media conference was held shortly after the Cabinet
announcement, which was witnessed by MPR leaders on television.

Also attending the session were Assembly deputy speakers Hari
Sabarno, who has just been appointed minister of home affairs,
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Husnie Thamrin and Nazri Adlani.

"You are going to ask me ... whether I'm disappointed because
my nominee (Bambang) was not selected for the Cabinet. I'm
telling you it's normal to be disappointed, but such feelings are
replaced by this great Cabinet. I am very positive about this
Cabinet," Amien said.

Amien further expressed confidence that the new Cabinet would
work together in solving the nation's problems, especially on
economic recovery and security matters.

He also praised both Assembly deputy chiefs, Hari Sabarno from
the TNI/Police faction and Matori Abdul Djalil from the National
Awakening Party (PKB) faction.

"Pak Hari Sabarno will do great things as minister of home
affairs and I believe Pak Matori will also be a good minister of
defense," Amien said.

He further said that the MPR status of both Hari and Matori
would soon be changed in accordance with Assembly regulations.

"The TNI/Police faction can submit a replacement while, in Pak
Matori's case, once the PKB faction actively resumes activities
in the Assembly, they can submit a replacement during the next
MPR general session," Amien said.

Similarly, Ginandjar Kartasasmita praised the Cabinet's
economic team.

"The economic team is comprised of figures who have high
credentials on both academic and professional matters. Pak
Dorodjatun is a highly respected professor and also a former
ambassador to the U.S. We also have figures like Pak Boediono who
has a strong background at Bappenas (National Development
Planning Board) and Bank Indonesia, so hopefully we'll do just
fine," Ginandjar said.

Ginandjar was former coordinating minister for the economy in
Habibie's administration and also served as minister of mines and
energy during the Soeharto era. (edt)