Minister Ryaas vows to reform bureaucracy

JAKARTA (JP): Ryaas Rasyid, who will be sworn in as the new minister for administrative reforms today, said his impending challenge is to complete the restructuring of the administration and reform of the bureaucracy.

"I will immediately reorganize departments and ministerial offices in line with the new cabinet structure.

"Several directorates general will likely be phased out but several new ones may be established. The restructuring will also change the present composition of staff in the bureaucracy," he said during a meeting with the press at his office here on Friday.

He stated that the government would propose a new policy to tackle the overstaffing prevalent in almost all departments.

"Such overstaffing could give rise to a major problem if it is not handled prudently," he said, referring to labor problems which resulted from the dissolution of the information and social welfare ministries last November.

He said the government would likely offer a golden handshake as compensation for state officials whose positions are phased out and early retirement for civil servants aged between 40 and 50 years old.

"State officials and civil servants who want to voluntarily avail of the early retirement scheme will be given a higher level of compensation so that they may develop their entrepreneurial abilities in the private sector," he said.

Ryaas added that the restructuring program was aimed at creating a more effective and efficient administration and improving service to the public.

He acknowledged that his new job would be very difficult because of the incompleteness of the restructuring program and the fact that the bureaucracy has remained immune from the reform movement.

"It is my overriding concern that the bureaucracy be reformed. The prevalent corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices must be curbed in order to restore the bureaucracy's tarnished image and improve its performance," he said.

He added that the training system for bureaucrats needs revising and training programs should be intensified so as to enhance professionalism.

Disappointment

Ryaas, former rector of the state-run Institute of Public Administration (IIP), said he was not disappointed with his appointment as state minister for administrative reforms because the new job is actually in line with his expertise.

"Frankly, I'm not disappointed with my new job," he said.

He declined to comment on reports that he planned to quit the Cabinet after learning that he was given the administrative reforms portfolio.

He admitted, however, that he accepted the new post for the sake of the government and the people.

"Of course, there is a logic in politics... Over the last ten months I have been entrusted with the task of handling the regional autonomy issue and I feel that I should be allowed to continue to do so until regional autonomy is fully put in place next January. But, the President has a different idea and logic," he said.

Ryaas admitted that both he and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri had some objections to the Cabinet lineup but they finally accepted it for the sake of the nation.

"Mega thinks of the government's credibility and is committed to maintaining political stability," said Ryaas, who stated that he was sure he would be named the new minister of home affairs hours before the Cabinet lineup was announced on Wednesday. (rms)