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)