Megawati selects Cabinet members at very last moment

Megawati selects Cabinet members at very last moment

People initially questioned the independence of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri in selecting her Cabinet, and ensuring it
was free from various undue influences and pressures. However,
when the line-up was announced, it showed clearly that Megawati
was firmly in control. This article by The Jakarta Post's
Kornelius Purba, describes the jostling among those attempting to
catch Megawati's one day before the Cabinet was announced on
Thursday.

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri's discretion
and self-confidence in selecting her Cabinet members reminded
many of the strategy frequently used by former president Soeharto
in selecting his ministerial team, even though she faced a much
tougher situation as regards political parties haggling for
position.

One day before the Cabinet announcement on Thursday, even a
powerful politician like Speaker of the People's Consultative
Assembly Amien Rais failed to get the latest information about
the Cabinet composition from Vice President Hamzah Haz.

Amien was reportedly shocked when he received information that
Megawati had decided to maintain Purnomo Yusgiantoro as minister
of energy and mineral resources. Amien had wanted to see his
friend and fellow executive of his National Mandate Party, M.
Hatta Radjasa, being appointed to the lucrative position.

Many politicians and senior government officials came to her
official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, or to the
office of her secretary Bambang Kesowo in Merdeka Selatan Palace
to promote themselves as suitable candidates for ministerial
office.

An inside source from Bambang's office said that some of the
visitors to Bambang's office even insisted that the President had
assured them of certain posts in the Cabinet.

"They insisted they were telephoned by the President's
adjutant to contact Pak Bambang," said the source, who asked not
to be identified.

Two senior officials from the Ministry of Transportation and
one from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights had also called
the office and openly asked about their chances of being
appointed to the Cabinet.

Bambang himself was likely the first person of the 32-member
Cabinet whom the President appointed. A few days before the
announcement, Megawati summoned him and told him to take charge
of the State Secretariat.

The day before the announcement, a The Jakarta Post staff
writer was waiting at Bambang's office for an interview.

Suddenly Deputy Attorney General Soeparman rushed in and
plumped down right down into the chair where the Post's staff
writer had placed his new laptop -- it was too late to stop him.

Bambang's secretary looked confused when Soeparman said he had
an appointment with his boss. "Is there any special message for
me?" a curious Soeparman asked.

Then there was a call from Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti who
informed Bambang that he had arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport at
10 a.m. that morning. Bambang earlier contacted Dorodjatun when
he was in transit at Changi Airport, Singapore.

"I can confirm Dorodjatun's appointment to you," Bambang told
the Post. He smiled broadly when asked about Boediono who was
later appointed minister of finance.

Bambang's four deputies, including Gunawan Sumodiningrat,
could not hide their nervousness when they were summoned by
Bambang. Gunawan at that time was tipped to head the National
Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

"My first interview will be with your newspaper if the rumor
is right," Gunawan promised. In the end, none of the deputies
were appointed to the Cabinet team.

Former foreign minister Ali Alatas also called Bambang because
Megawati wanted to meet with the respected diplomat. Alatas was
told to go to Megawati's residence.

"If there is no problem with his health, the President would
prefer Alatas to be in charge of foreign affairs," said an
official.

At 1 p.m., Bambang met with Megawati. At the time, Megawati
had reportedly made up her mind to appoint Rini M.S. Soewandi as
minister of industry and trade and Laksamana to be in charge for
state-owned enterprises.

While selecting her Cabinet, Megawati on that day also signed
an official letter to Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong,
thanking him for his congratulations. Megawati will visit
Singapore on Aug. 26 and fly to Kuala Lumpur on the same day.

Bambang then telephoned U.S. envoy Robert S. Gelbard. They met
at Bambang's office at 4 p.m. Megawati reportedly wanted to visit
Washington next month but only if the White House officially
issued an invitation to her.

At 5 p.m., Bambang accompanied the President to her meeting
with Vice President Hamzah Haz. The presidential decree on the
appointment of the Cabinet however was only typed up at 3 a.m. on
Thursday, just a few hours before Megawati's announcement.