Maulani installed as new Bakin chief

Maulani installed as new Bakin chief

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung stressed
the important role played by the State Intelligence Coordinating
Board (Bakin) in providing accurate information and analysis of
developments in the nation during a ceremony to swear in a new
head of the intelligence body.

"The information and analysis (provided by Bakin) is crucial
to determining what measures are taken by the state," Akbar said
after swearing in Lt. Gen. (ret) Zaini Azhar Maulani as the new
chief of the board.

Maulani, who was formerly secretary to the vice president,
replaced Lt. Gen. Moetoyib in a ceremony held at the State
Secretariat here on Wednesday.

"Negligence and mistakes in the information could prove
fatal," Akbar said, adding that the new chief should work with
caution.

Akbar also installed Ahmad Watik Pratiknya, an assistant to
the Minister/State Secretary, in Maulani's former position in the
Vice President's Secretariat.

Bakin answers directly to the President and falls under the
State Secretariat administratively.

Akbar said Bakin was expected to provide information and
analysis on developments inside and outside the country, "which
was certainly not the sort of information which we receive
through more conventional channels."

He praised Maulani's vision and impressive military record and
said he was the right person for the key post.

"The choice of Maulani for the post is correct, especially as
we are entering the information era and have to face up to
globalization," he said. Maulani has written many articles on
military issues for the mass media.

Akbar also said he was confident that Maulani's successful
career in the military and the bureaucracy had given him all the
experience he would need to lead the board.

Maulani was born on Jan. 6, 1939, in Marabahan, South
Kalimantan. He has a wife, Retno Intan Maulani, and six children.

He graduated from the Military Academy in 1961 along with
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen.
Feisal Tanjung and former Army deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen.
(ret) Sahala Radjagukguk.

His military career peaked when he was appointed chief of the
Tanjungpura Military Command overseeing Kalimantan in 1988. He
replaced Feisal Tanjung in the job.

He has been close to Habibie since 1995, when he was appointed
to the expert staff of the Agency for Assessment and Application
of Technology (BPPT) which the President formerly headed.
(prb/rms)