Observers hail Megawati's Cabinet lineup

Observers hail Megawati's Cabinet lineup

JAKARTA (JP): Observers hailed on Thursday the new Cabinet
lineup under President Megawati Soekarnoputri, but at the same
time warned that there might be a major political crisis if
Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz did not relinquish their
party chairmanship.

Political observer and former senior minister Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the new
Cabinet, especially the economics team, was "a good beginning for
Megawati's administration."

"Dorodjatun is a very good communicator, so I believe he can
do a good job in leading the economics team. Boediono is also an
honest man.

"So lets see what happens within the next three months as the
annual People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)'s General Session
will be held and there is a potential for political friction
then," Sarwono said.

Sarwono, who served as minister of maritime affairs in the
Abdurrahman administration, said the fact that both Megawati and
Hamzah did not relinquish their party leadership might cause
problems in the future.

"This is an obstacle they will have to overcome to survive,"
Sarwono said, adding that political parties have a tendency to
get into disputes and abandon the nation's interests when they
are involved in a power struggle.

Megawati is the chairwoman of the country's largest political
party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), while Hamzah is chairman of the United Development
Party (PPP). Both have said they would not relinquish their party
post.

Political analyst Ichlasul Amal from the Yogyakarta-based
Gadjah Mada University also praised the new Cabinet lineup,
especially those in the economics team, but he slammed Megawati's
choice of dismissed National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman
Matori Abdul Djalil as defense minister.

He doubted if the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National
Police would accept Matori's assignment as minister of defense,
saying Matori was a new figure to both institutions.

"Another serious question is whether Matori will be able to
accommodate non-governmental organizations' protests against
human rights violations," he said.

He also said the selection of Matori would be viewed by the
public as the President's reward for Matori's support for the
Assembly Special Session despite PKB's rejection of it.

On Faisal Tamin's appointment as minister of administrative
reform, Amal said Faisal's former position as civil servants
corps (KORPRI) chief could influence his policy as minister.

"The spirit of uniformity can be a serious problem for Faisal.
In contrast, the affairs of the state apparatus have been changed
drastically since the implementation of the law on regional
autonomy," he said.

Political observer Riswandha Imawan described the new Cabinet
as "too fat" as a result of the distribution of ministerial posts
to political parties that supported Megawati's rise to the
presidency.

Riswandha said the positions given to Matori, Bachtiar Chamsah
and Said Agil Munawar were a gift from Megawati for their
support.

"Matori got his position for his support for the MPR Special
Session, Bachtiar Chamsah for his attack on Abdurrahman Wahid's
government and Said Aqil Munawar for his statement, as a Muslim
scholar, that the issue of a female president is still debatable
in Islamic law," he said.

He warned that Bambang Kesowo's appointment as Cabinet
secretary could also serve as a weak point for Megawati.

"Mega can be alienated from her own ministers as the door to
the Cabinet ministers is guarded by Bambang," he said.

He said the current Cabinet benefited the Indonesian Military
more than the political parties.

Strong portfolios and lucrative ministries, for instance, went
to TNI personnel such as the home affairs and the
telecommunications ministries.

This will effectively prevent further bickering among
political parties over strategic positions, Amal said. (edt/44)