Marsilam temporarily fills Ryaas' post

Marsilam temporarily fills Ryaas' post

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid named on Monday
Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak the acting administrative
reform minister replacing Ryaas Rasyid who unilaterally declared
his resignation last week.

Speaking to reporters at Merdeka Palace, Marsilam said the
President's decision was only temporary and no one has so far
been appointed to take over from Ryaas.

"This is only a temporary decision to fill the position left
vacant (by Ryaas)," Marsilam said, adding that his new duty was
based on a presidential decree signed by Abdurrahman on Monday.

Marsilam did not explain, however, why Abdurrahman, who
accepted Ryaas' resignation on Friday evening, has not appointed
anyone to permanently replace Ryaas.

Ryaas declared his resignation on Friday since Abdurrahman had
yet to respond to the former's resignation letter personally
delivered to the President on Jan. 2.

Ryaas, who quit the Cabinet largely in protest of the
President's policy on the implementation of regional autonomy,
has said earlier he would return to the Institute of
Administrative Science and seek permission to undertake research
overseas to write a book on reform in Indonesia. (byg)