New govt told to set up New Order-free Cabinet

New govt told to set up New Order-free Cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): Analysts called on the newly elected Abdurrahman
Wahid-Megawati Soekarnoputri government on Thursday to establish
a "New Order free" cabinet.

"I hope that there will be no element of the New Order (in the
cabinet)," noted political analyst Soedjati Djiwandono told The
Jakarta Post.

Soedjati was referring to the much criticized government under
former president Soeharto who resigned in May last year amid
savage riots and mounting student protests.

"I hope that the next cabinet members will be younger and are
not mere "yes men" people. They should be more independent and
able to do more than just wait for instructions," Soedjati said.

He also said that Abdurrahman and Megawati would have to be
able "to lead and to coordinate" the cabinet members.

The choice has heightened optimism that Abdurrahman and
Megawati would be able to lead the country out of the current
political uncertainty and economic turmoil.

Senior political analyst Mochtar Pabottingi shared Soedjati's
view saying that the next cabinet must consist of proreform and
competent members.

"The members must also be free from any corrupt practices,"
Mochtar said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Akbar Tandjung
said on Thursday that Abdurrahman had been given a one-week
deadline to set up the cabinet.

Leader of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB) Alwi
Shihab, however, was quoted by Antara as saying on Thursday that
Abdurrahman would need up to two weeks to set up the new cabinet.

Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said that the next
cabinet should be "a national-based cabinet".

"It should be a national-based cabinet respecting the major
sociopolitical forces, but it should be combined with expertise,"
Marzuki said.

Meanwhile, political observer Arbi Sanit said the next cabinet
should accommodate all elements in society.

"The next cabinet should accommodate political parties that
have played a decisive role in the Assembly, including the axis
force that nominated Abdurrahman in the presidential election,"
he said referring to a caucus of several Muslim-based parties in
the Assembly.

Arbi said the cabinet should be simplified to promote
efficiency amidst the economic crisis.

"The cabinet should consist of between 20 and 25 ministers.
State departments that are considered ineffective and inefficient
should be disbanded while coordinating minister posts should be
phased out," he said.

Habibie's Reform-Development took 38 people onboard comprising
of four coordinating ministers, 20 ministers heading departments,
12 state ministers, the Attorney General and the Governor of Bank
Indonesia.

Calls for a slimline cabinet also came from DPR deputy speaker
Khofifah Indar Parawansa of the PKB.

Noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis stressed the need for the new
leadership to establish a cabinet comprised of "professional"
people as the country was facing serious problems.

"The next cabinet should contain professionals and should not
recruit those who had been involved in the New Order government,"
he said.

Todung brushed aside suggestions that it was more important to
satisfy the need for political seats in the cabinet, saying that
including qualified people should be the central consideration.

"It is not important for the cabinet to be filled by
politicians from political parties," he said.

Abdurrahman, before being elected president, told journalists
on Monday that some ministries including Religious Affairs,
Foreign and Education affairs may be filled from the PKB.

Analysts said some ministries may be filled from the axis
force while a number of economic officials could come from
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan).

Analysts also said Abdurrahman was likely to pick some members
from the Golkar Party in return for the latter's support in the
presidential election. (05/byg/emf/rms)