Muhammadiyah offers up members for Cabinet posts
Muhammadiyah offers up members for Cabinet posts
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the second largest Muslim
organization, Muhammadiyah, Syafii Ma'arif admitted here on
Saturday that he had offered President Megawati Soekarnoputri and
Vice President Hamzah Haz names of members of his organization
who could fill ministerial posts.
Syafii, however, denied reports that he had insisted the two
leaders selected Muhammadiyah members for the new Cabinet.
"Muhammadiyah did not insist that its members be included in
the new Cabinet. Muhammadiyah is not a political party," Syafii
said.
"We just want to say that we have the human resources to serve
in the Cabinet," Syafii said at Yogyakarta-based Sunan Kalijaga
State Institute of Islamic Studies.
He refused to name the Muhammadiyah figures whom he believed
had the capability of holding ministerial posts. He also declined
to reveal the ministerial posts the organization's figures could
fill.
"We have many intellectuals who are capable in the field of
technology and so on," he said.
Syafii said the delay in announcing the Cabinet lineup was
understandable as there were many political parties and social
organizations that needed to be accommodated.
Political parties have submitted their candidates for the new
Cabinet but the Cabinet lineup will not be announced until
Thursday, reportedly due to a power struggle within Megawati's
own party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan).
Syafii said accommodating political parties in the new Cabinet
was inevitable.
He, however, brushed aside political observers' warning that
politicians in the Cabinet would only be working toward their own
political interests and as a result bring disharmony.
"The solidity of the Cabinet will depend on the leadership of
the President and Vice President."
He also suggested that all politicians in the Cabinet be loyal
to the President rather than their respective political party
leader. "This requires maturity on the part of political parties.
Once a politician is appointed minister he or she must discard
his or her political attributes," he said.
Syafii also warned that the President must not create too many
new ministries. (44)