New state secretary picked on merit: Gus Dur

New state secretary picked on merit: Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): Beset by allegations of collusion and nepotism
in the Bulogate scandal, President Abdurrahman Wahid installed
Djohan Effendi as state secretary on Wednesday in what he said
was an appointment based on merit.

The President acknowledged that Djohan was a close friend of
his but insisted he was a senior and qualified bureaucrat.

In the ceremony, which also included the appointment of
Soedarti Surbakti as Central Bureau of Statistics chief,
Abdurrahman described Djohan as an experienced bureaucrat who was
a onetime senior assistant to then state secretary Moerdiono in
the 1990s.

He added that Djohan's record as head of the Ministry of
Religious Affairs' research and development agency was
noteworthy.

Abdurrahman said he decided to choose Djohan as Bondan
Gunawan's successor because he needed a senior aide who could
provide him with accurate information and input about state
affairs.

"He has a deep knowledge of the State Secretariat's situation
and development. That is the reason why I asked him to be a state
secretary," the President said.

"Not because he is my longtime friend".

The President did not mention Bondan, who was also present
during the ceremony, in his speech and merely indicated that he
was satisfied with the state information he received so far.

Bondan made a shock resignation late on Monday after his name
was increasingly linked to the Rp 35 billion scandal at the State
Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Abdurrahman specifically recruited close friend Bondan as
secretary of government supervision in January. A month later he
appointed Bondan as acting state secretary following the
resignation of Ali Rahman.

Abdurrahman has lost six Cabinet members since his election as
the country's fourth president in October.

Bondan again professed his innocence following the ceremony.

"I am very eager to be summoned by the DPR (the House of
Representatives) and police," he said. (prb)