Parties scramble to get their members into new Cabinet
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)