Minister complains over lack of staff

Minister complains over lack of staff

SEMARANG: After being in office for only a month, Minister of
Maritime Exploration Sarwono Kusumaatmadja asserted that he is
the only staff member in the newly-formed ministry.

"Well, I have one member of staff. Myself," he quipped during
the opening of a Marine Conference on Wednesday night.

"I have to start from zero and prepare everything first.
Imagine, there is no office, no directorate generals and no
budget. So what's the point of talking too much?" he said when
asked to elaborate on his new post.

However, three Presidential Decrees to elaborate the function,
authority, structure, recruitment and role of the ministry are on
the way, he remarked.

"I've also proposed to the President five directorate
generals," he said.

The five are research and exploration affairs, fishery
affairs, institution development, beach and islets affairs and
marine security and protection. (har/edt)