PAN dismisses ministers Yahya, Hilal

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais said on Thursday that the party had "honorably discharged" two Cabinet ministers from its membership because they had gone against party orders, ignoring calls to quit their posts.

Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin and Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al Hilal Hamdi had earlier expressed their desire to remain in the Cabinet.

The two ministers were both members of PAN's Advisory Board.

"Up until the deadline at 6 a.m. on March 15, 2001, the two ministers had not responded to the party's order to resign from the Cabinet.

"Therefore, on behalf of PAN, I signed letters of dismissal for both Yahya and Hilal," Amien told journalists on Thursday.

PAN has officially withdrawn its support for President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet, contending that the administration "is no longer legitimate".

Amien, who is also Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), said the decision to expel both Yahya and Hilal from PAN was reached during an overnight meeting on March 14, which was attended by 21 party executives.

"At the meeting, it was revealed that, in principle, PAN had officially ordered its two cadres to resign from their ministerial posts," Amien said.

He further said that, ethically, the two should have resigned, because the administration is no longer legitimate.

"Yahya has said that his presence in the Cabinet is not as a representative of PAN, but of Muhammadiyah (Muslim organization). Meanwhile, Hilal said he will stay in Gus Dur's Cabinet for as long as it takes," Amien said, referring to the President by his nickname.

PAN deputy chairman Abdillah Toha said separately on Thursday that the decision to discharge the two ministers "is an institutional ruling".

"The decision was made by PAN as an institution.

"As an institution, we have to be firm in our beliefs. Since PAN has withdrawn its support, the party is no longer responsible for the two ministers' actions," Abdillah said.

"However, we will maintain a good, personal relationship with both Pak Yahya and Hilal. If, later, they want to rejoin PAN ... well, we will have to think it over," he said.

Abdillah said both ministers have agreed to stay within the Cabinet and accepted the party's dismissal.

When asked whether the two ministers have performed their jobs well, within their areas of responsibility, Abdillah said: "Well ... there have been no major breakthroughs, but it is also probable that the two haven't had a chance to do much in the Cabinet period of 1.5 years."

"If I were them, I would have quit before the party asked me to," Abdillah said on the sidelines of an education seminar and book launch at the Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta.

Separately, Muhammad Nadjib, deputy secretary of PAN, said the party's executive board had no other alternative than to revoke the two minister's membership of the party.

"It would be very strange to maintain the two PAN members in Cabinet when we have urged the President to step down," he said.

Meanwhile, Hilal said he was concerned with the party's decision but, at the same time, it would allow the party to remain critical of the government.

"By revoking our membership, the party will no longer be obstructed in criticizing the government," he said after the closing ceremony of a labor export seminar.

Hilal dismissed speculation that he and Yahya were victims of the rift between PAN and the presidential institution.

"I must continue with my commitment to help complete the deliberation of two bills, on the settlement of labor disputes and labor protection, as well as other ministry programs," he said.

Hilal said he was designing a program to establish the months from October through December as a negotiation period for employers and workers, which would then be followed by a no- strike, or cooling-off, period.

"I'm also working to provide severance pay for dismissed and laid-off workers within social security programs so that employers will no longer have financial difficulties if they have to dismiss their workers," he said.

Yahya said he is ready to accept the consequences.

"I never predicted that this would happen ... but I'm not shocked. My friendship with Amien goes a long way back, so it's difficult to express what I am feeling.

"If I were to say that I am not disappointed, that would be wrong. If I were to say that I am glad, that would be improper also. Well, I'm in-between.

"But I am certain about one thing, that I will continue working as hard as usual to improve the nation's education system," he said, adding that "everything is much clearer now". (edt/rms)