Parties scramble to get their members into new Cabinet
JAKARTA (JP): With only a few days remaining before a new Cabinet line-up is announced, political parties are jostling with President Megawati Soekarnoputri or her aides and Vice President Hamzah Haz to get their candidates into the Cabinet.
Major political parties and mass organizations have reportedly put forward their names to Megawati and Hamzah Haz, and those names will be discussed at a private meeting on Thursday.
Muslim organization Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Ma'arif and Golkar deputy chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita met separately with Hamzah Haz to make sure their voices were heard during Thursday's meeting.
Syafii openly said after the meeting that the organization wanted a position in the Cabinet, and, if possible, as minister of education.
"We have experience in the educational field and we have qualified candidates to fill that position. We hope that the Vice President considers our suggestion," Syafii said.
He added that the Muhammadiyah had also proposed Malik Fajar and Din Syamsuddin as candidates for the minister of education.
Meanwhile, Ginandjar, after meeting with the Vice President, said that it was important to have professional economic ministers in the Cabinet to help maintain market confidence and expedite economic recovery.
The former top economic minister under then presidents Soeharto and Habibie, however, did not mention any names for the position nor possible candidates from Golkar for the new Cabinet.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Golkar Party may propose Ade Komaruddin, Fahmi Idris, Theo Sambuaga, Marwah Daud Ibrahim and Syamsul Muarif.
Several major parties have also put forward their names to either Megawati or Hamzah Haz.
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has submitted the names of Laksamana Sukardi, Kwik Kian Gie, Pramono Anung, Hendropriyono and Soetjipto.
Hamzah's United Development Party (PPP) has provided Bachtiar Chamsyah as its candidate.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) has presented Bambang Sudibyo and Hatta Radjasa as candidates.
The acting chairman for the National Awakening Party (PKB), Alwi Shihab, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the party would not join Megawati's Cabinet, but would not hold a grudge against PDI Perjuangan for what happened against PKB's chief patron, former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
However, PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung disclosed on Wednesday that it would be appropriate to accommodate the largest Muslim organization in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which is also a strong supporter of Abdurrahman, in the coming Cabinet.
"Including NU members in the upcoming cabinet may be one of the best ways to achieve national reconciliation," Pramono told the Post.
All the above names as well as others will be discussed by Megawati, Hamzah and leaders of major political parties at the planned meeting to be held either at Megawati's private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, or in her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta.
"For the upcoming meeting, all parties are expected to discuss the platform of the coming Cabinet and the names to fill the ministerial posts," PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono said.
He further said that all parties in the House of Representatives were invited to the meeting, except the PKB.
"But we will invite the dismissed PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil in his capacity as the People's Consultative Assembly deputy speaker," Pramono said.
The Cabinet line-up is expected to be announced either on Friday or Saturday.
Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung expressed his discontent over the prolonged process to determine the Cabinet line-up and urged Megawati to speed up the Cabinet's announcement.
"I have been trying to meet Megawati and ask her to speed up the announcement of the Cabinet," Akbar said, adding that he had yet to receive an invitation to attend the meeting on Thursday. (dja/tso)