PAN dismisses ministers Yahya, Hilal

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PAN has officially withdrawn its support for President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PAN has withdrawn its support, the party is no longer responsible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)