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)