Observers call for multiparty cabinet for 1998-2003

JAKARTA (JP): With next year's general election almost certain to extend Golkar's longtime dominance, political observers are hoping to see a multiparty cabinet for the first time since 1972.

A cabinet comprising all the political parties will further eliminate the dichotomy between a ruling party and its opponents, Maswadi Rauf of the University of Indonesia's School of Political and Social Sciences said Saturday.

"We have agreed that 'opposition' is not a word you will find in the Pancasila democracy vocabulary," Maswadi said. "The cabinet lineups these past two decades have contradicted this."

The inclusion of minority parties in the cabinet will instill a greater sense of belonging, and will encourage them to share in the responsibility of the national development program, in spite of differences in some areas, he said.

The 1945 Constitution says that a president has the prerogative right to choose his assistants. The Constitution does not elaborate qualifications for the president's aides, except that they must be able to work together with him or her.

President Soeharto initially included figures from the minority parties to serve along with technocrats and politicians from Golkar, the current dominant political organization, in his cabinet. The practice ended after his reelection in 1978.

In the cabinet he formed after the 1971 election, he appointed Mintaredja of the Indonesian Moslem Party (Parmusi) as minister of social services, and Sunawar Sukawati of the Indonesian Nationalist Party as state minister for people's welfare.

In 1973, the government simplified the number of political groups allowed to contest the general elections from 12 to three: Golkar, the United Development Party -- a fusion of Moslem parties -- and the Indonesian Democratic Party -- a merger of Christian and nationalist parties.

Barring major surprises, the next general election in May is expected to give Golkar another landslide victory.

All indications also point to President Soeharto returning to power in the March 1998 election.

"The next president should give at least one post to each of the minority parties in the next cabinet, because it is easier now to find good partners from them," Maswadi said.

Mohammad A.S. Hikam of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, agreed that the next cabinet should be multiparty, but he was pessimistic that the call would be heeded.

"A multiparty cabinet is everybody's hope. However, it is unlikely, since President Soeharto has yet to give signals on the possibility," Hikam said.

Soeharto's decision to include non-Golkar figures in his cabinet in the early years of his presidency reflected the political needs at the time, when the nation was consolidating after the abortive coup attempt blamed on the communists, he said.

"Golkar has since then become afraid that the presence of outsiders would adversely affect the running of the administration," Hikam said.

He said it would be a major breakthrough if Golkar invited other parties to join forces with the government in the next cabinet.

"There are many experts outside Golkar who meet the standards required for ministerial posts," he said. "Besides, the cabinet is not Golkar's exclusive interest." (amd)