Mega bemoans shrinking Cabinet
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri complained for a second time about ministers who quit the Cabinet to challenge her in the coming presidential election, saying their departure had weakened her government.
Speaking in a meeting with General Elections Commission (KPU) members on Thursday, the President suggested that the country find a better way to prevent the political interests of individual Cabinet members from affecting the administration.
"If a minister joins the presidential race, then what we experience today will recur. The ministers just leave the Cabinet without finishing their duties," Megawati said as quoted by KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti after the meeting.
The President asked the KPU for inputs to help the next government cope with such a situation in the future.
"I raise this issue not because I am the incumbent president, but such a matter should not happen again," Megawati further remarked.
In the coming July 5 presidential election, Megawati will face three of her former ministers plus her deputy Hamzah Haz.
Former coordinating minister for political and security affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party, whose running mate is former coordinating minister for people's welfare Jusuf Kalla.
Former communications minister Agum Gumelar is the vice presidential candidate of the United Development Party (PPP), which has nominated its leader Hamzah as its presidential candidate.
Earlier this month Megawati expressed disappointment with ministers contesting the presidential election, branding them "leaping squirrels" for abandoning the Cabinet and state duties for their political interests.
However, Megawati was soon criticized by observers, who said that even without the resignation of some ministers, her Cabinet had never worked effectively.
"Mega should realize that her government does work well in many fields. So when some ministers resign, she should not use their departure as an excuse for her administration's performance," political analyst Arbi Sanit said.
He said the current Cabinet was unable to resolve key problems, particularly corruption, law enforcement and unemployment.
"Moreover it is a minister's right to resign from the Cabinet," he said.
Another observer Saiful Mujani said the resignation was a consequence of Megawati's rainbow Cabinet which had not built strong ties with her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
"Of course, the resignation of several ministers will bother Megawati. But she should not complain as it will backfire on her presidential campaign," he said.
Saiful believed ministers who opted to resign were thinking of a brighter future and probably thought it pointless to stay in the Cabinet.
"The main reason is perhaps that the ministers are seeking higher political positions like the vice presidency and the presidency. So the resignation has nothing to do with the Cabinet's performance," he said.