Megawati 'neglecting affairs of state'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

An expert accused President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her ministers on Sunday of neglecting their state duties over short- termed political gains, saying that many problems needed urgent solutions.

He charged that the government had not been functioning properly since the President, Vice President Hamzah Haz and Cabinet ministers started campaigning for their respective parties ahead of the April 5 legislative elections.

"With many high-ranking officials on the campaign trail, the government has become even more ineffective," University of Indonesia political analyst Arbi Sanit told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Aside from Megawati, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Hamzah, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), several Cabinet ministers were actively involved in the campaigns for the April 5 legislative elections and July 5 presidential election.

They include State Minister for Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, State Minister for Information and Communications Syamsul Muarif, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea, and Minister of Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi.

Their involvement in the election campaigns has effectively reduced the number of both plenary and limited Cabinet meetings.

Many have been questioning the effectiveness of the government since March as Megawati was rarely at the capital. During the 30 days of the presidential campaign, she only presided over one plenary Cabinet meeting.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erman Radjagukguk said that it was true that the President had yet to sign several presidential letters for the government to submit bills to the House.

"The reason why we have not sent those bills to the House is because the relevant ministers have yet to discuss them," Erman told the Post.