Mega promise corruption-free Cabinet
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta
In an apparent effort to continue the anticorruption crusade that he launched as leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi, the running mate of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has insisted that fighting corruption will be one of the main priorities of a Mega-Hasyim government.
On Monday, Haysim promised that their Cabinet would "consist of people imbued with loyalty, competence and integrity."
"I am happy to say that Ibu Megawati agrees about this," said Hasyim, who declared he was nonactive as NU chairman when the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared him as a vice presidential candidate on May 22.
Addressing one of her rare press conferences, Megawati also said that she had agreed with Hasyim not to appoint any person tarnished by suspicions of graft to her Cabinet.
"It is part of the deal that we discussed six months ago before we agreed to pair up as running mates," Megawati said.
Hasyim said that combating corruption should start from the top within the Cabinet.
In October Hasyim and Syafii Ma'arif, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization, pledged to work together in a "cultural" movement to combat corruption.
With their organizations claiming a combined membership of 70 million, they said they shared the responsibility for spreading the anticorruption message in their communities and among religious leaders. Indonesia is among the world's most corrupt countries.
Megawati meanwhile defended her much criticized stance on corruption, saying that much had been done to try to bring suspects to court. Nevertheless, the current attorney general, MA Rachman, who has been questioned by the police for concealing assets, has been allowed to remain in the Cabinet.
Mega and Hasyim also briefly described their program in the economics field, which focuses on the creation of jobs, increases in civil service salaries, improvements in education, and reducing the number of those living under the poverty line by 45 percent.
Both leaders also promised to continue with the fight against terrorism "within proper legal parameters."
In defense of her track record, Megawati said the situation today was much better than it was when she was appointed President in 2001.
"Those who say that the economy is stagnant are simply denying the facts. There are many things that this current government has done," she remarked.
The pair also pledged that they would not resort to smears and insults against their rivals during the month-long presidential campaign.
"Indonesia should prove to the world that we can practice democracy in a peaceful manner," the President remarked.