Observers call for multiparty cabinet for 1998-2003

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)