Megawati 'fully involved' in new Cabinet planning

Megawati 'fully involved' in new Cabinet planning

BANDUNG (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono asserted on Tuesday the decisive role played by Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the intensive lobbying and
discussions ahead of the announcement of the new Cabinet later
this week.

Speaking to reporters after accompanying Megawati to the
inauguration of the newly-renovated geology museum, Susilo,
coordinator of the team of three ministers tasked with drafting
the makeup of the Cabinet, said the team had met several times in
the last few days with both President Abdurrahman Wahid and the
Vice President.

In addition to Susilo, the team includes Minister of Regional
Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid and Minister of Settlement and Territorial
Development Erna Witoelar.

"We have met two times with the President and two times with
the Vice President and five of us have also met together two
times," Susilo said.

Megawati has been newly tasked to lead the Cabinet under a new
task-sharing formula with the President, but many have said her
competence remains a question.

Susilo added that with regard to the composition of the
economic members in the new Cabinet, the team had sought advice
from several economists and businessmen.

"We have to consider all aspects and we also have to
understand what will be the fundamental issues, agenda and
priorities over the next four years," Susilo said.

Abdurrahman has stated that the number of ministers in the new
Cabinet would be cut to around 25 members from the previous 35.

Some senior officials hinted that the ministries under the new
Cabinet would be reduced to between 15 and 17 ministries.

Later in the day, Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said that he was tipped off by Ryaas that in the
upcoming Cabinet his ministry would be merged with the State
Ministry for Human Rights Affairs under a new name -- Ministry of
Justice and Human Rights Affairs.

"After the combination, the ministry will likely have a
directorate for human rights affairs and it will hand over the
administration of the judicial system to the Supreme Court," he
said.

Asked whether he would be reappointed to the new Cabinet,
Yusril said: "Only God knows".

A source at Yusril's ministry told The Jakarta Post that he
would be appointed state secretary in the new Cabinet.

Officials at his ministry said Yusril was scheduled to meet
with Megawati late Tuesday at her official residence on Jl.
Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, to finalize the draft decree on the
work-sharing arrangement between the President and the Vice
President.

"We are still awaiting confirmation from Megawati's office
that the meeting is going to take place tonight," an official
said.

Gus Dur, as the President is also called, promised before the
People's Consultative Assembly earlier this month that he would
hand over the technical day-to-day running of the government to
Megawati.

Yusril said that the decree would be issued together with the
announcement of the new Cabinet lineup.

The announcement initially was scheduled for Aug. 21, but the
President decided to delay as he needed more time to discuss the
lineup with Megawati and other political leaders. (25/bby/byg)