Observers and legislators divided on cabinet recruitment

JAKARTA (JP): Countless criticism of the outgoing cabinet's performance has inspired observers to call for an improvement in the quality of ministers recruited, suggesting that they first be screened in a House of Representatives (DPR) hearing.

Syamsudin Haris and Muhammad A.S. Hikam, political scientists at the National Institute of Science, and Mahfud M.D., a constitutional law expert at the Indonesian Islamic University in Yogyakarta, support the need for thorough scrutiny of cabinet candidates, but agree that the idea could not yet be applied due to an unfavorable political format.

However, the idea was rejected by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators Din Syamsudin and Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who cited the President's constitutional prerogative to choose the cabinet.

Haris said yesterday that under the present political system, the country's president does not have to account for his or her cabinet's performance to the people.

"People have never been informed of the reasons why a person is named a minister or is sacked from the cabinet, or why a ministry is set up or liquidated," Haris said.

This lack of accountability has caused numerous cabinets to underperform and ministers have, from time to time, evaded certain responsibilities, instead leaving them for the president to deal with, he added.

Alleged irregularities in the use of funds from the state- owned social insurance company PT Jamsostek last year serve as evidence of the lack of cabinet accountability, according to Haris.

He suggested that future presidents consult the House when forming a cabinet and be able to justify that nominees are a popular choice with the people.

Mahfud agreed with Haris, saying that a process of scrutiny in the DPR would ensure the quality and reliability of cabinet ministers. He predicted that such a recruitment system will come into being within the next 10 years.

Hikam begged to differ, suggesting that President Soeharto, who will almost certainly be reelected, heed the public desire for a cabinet capable of shielding them from further economic adversity.

"In this time of crisis, the President should listen carefully to the public voice and only recruit candidates who pass public scrutiny," Hikam said.

Vetting procedures, he added, would serve as a controlling measure for cabinet members in the future and help ensure that they live up to public expectations. If they do not, they should resign, he said.

Din and Yusril, on the other hand, insisted that any changes in the procedure for establishing the cabinet would be a breach of the Constitution.

"The Assembly must first amend the Constitution before we adopt a new practice," said Yusril, a constitutional law expert at the University of Indonesia.

He said that House scrutiny of ministerial candidates could apply only in an Anglo-Saxon style system, under which the parliament controls the government.

Din also strongly defended the Presidents monopoly on the recruitment of assistants, saying that Soeharto had proven to be wise enough to name the best people for the posts.

"Never think of unconstitutional changes. Who can guarantee that a foreign system will work here? Of course President Soeharto will listen to the people and apply a rational approach to select his best aides," Din said.

Despite the debate, no one disagreed that the future cabinet is in need of experts who will help President Soeharto overcome the economic crisis. (swa/amd)