Marzuki installed, told to save forests
Marzuki installed, told to save forests
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid installed Marzuki
Usman as the new Minister of Forestry on Saturday replacing
Nurmahmudi Ismail who was sacked from the Cabinet on Thursday.
In his statement, Abdurrahman told Marzuki, who was minister
for tourism, arts and culture under former president B.J.
Habibie, to save the nation's forests saying they were part of
the country's natural wealth, useful for the national economy.
"Forests should be managed well as part of the country's
national resources," Abdurrahman said as quoted by Antara.
"Indonesia's vast forests must be preserved so they can
function as part of the world's lungs and be used for the benefit
of the national economy," he added.
The President told the new forestry minister to adjust his
ministry's policies in order to take account of national economic
policies.
"Our forests are part of the country's economy, thus forest
management policies should be related to economic policies. This
is a must," he said.
Abdurrahman noted that Indonesia's forests are the third
largest in the world after Brazil and Nigeria.
He maintained that this valuable natural resource must not be
divided into lots, but be preserved and used for the benefit of
the entire nation not just by certain groups.
"We can not let our forests be damaged just like that, because
it will disturb not only Indonesia as a nation, but the world as
well," he said.
The swearing-in ceremony was led by Coordinating Minister of
Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
There was no official confirmation why Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who usually takes the oaths of new Cabinet
ministers or top state officials, was absent from Saturday's
ceremony. Sources said that she was in Jakarta.
Nurmahmudi, former chairman of the Justice Party (PK), was
sacked on Thursday, for having a different vision of forestry
affairs to the President and for being unable to control his
party, said defense minister Mahfud M.D.
Earlier, presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said the
appointment of Marzuki to replace Nurmahmudi had been "made with
the knowledge and agreement of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri."
Meanwhile, Nurmahmudi said that he was dismissed because he
had turned down Abdurrahman's order to replace the ministry's
secretary-general Soeripto, who was accused by Abdurrahman of
plotting to oust him.
Soeripto was reportedly working to collect evidence against
timber tycoon Prajogo Pangestu, one of the three conglomerates
whose legal cases have been suspended by Abdurrahman's
government.
Meanwhile, Marzuki Usman said that he only knew about his
appointment after being personally contacted by the President at
4 p.m. on Friday.
Marzuki, 57, who was also investment minister during the last
months of Habibie's presidency, said he would prioritize efforts
to prevent forest fires in Indonesia.
"It's very shameful to be annually blamed by the international
community for the forest fires," he said.
Meanwhile, political observer Ichlasul Amal said on Saturday
that there is no guarantee that the appointment of Marzuki Usman,
as the new Minister of Forestry, could improve the government's
performance.
"The replacement will, on the contrary, worsen the
government's image," said Amal, who is also rector of the
Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University.
He said that Nurmahmudi's dismissal would encourage Muslim-
oriented political parties to act more explicitly against the
current government as his appointment as minister was based on
political compromise.
"The decision (to dismiss Nurmahmudi) will only add to the
list of government enemies.
"I think Gus Dur is being too confident. How could he do this
while his government is suffering a political crisis," he said.
Amal said that the appointment of Marzuki Usman, who is
considered non-partisan, would not benefit the government as the
latter did not have any support from political parties. (44/imn)