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)