Politicians deplore ministers' exodus
Politicians deplore ministers' exodus
JAKARTA (JP): Instead of praise, the recent departure of seven
Cabinet members has drawn criticism among politicians who deem
the move as an effort to ease pressure on President B.J. Habibie
when he holds his accountability speech before the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Justice and Unity Party (PKP) figure Sarwono Kusumaatmadja,
who is a former Cabinet member, said on Wednesday the exodus
violated political ethics.
"Although lawful, if I were a minister, I would stay in the
Cabinet to help the President take account of his administration
and incoming members of the MPR General Session," he said at a
seminar on corruption and human rights abuses.
Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid,
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono,
Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris, Minister of Tourism, Arts and
Culture Marzuki Usman and State Minister of Public Housing and
Settlement Theo L. Sambuaga quit their posts on Monday after
being elected MPR members.
The 1999 Law on the Composition of the Assembly, House of
Representatives, Provincial and Regency Legislatures says MPR
membership is open to everybody, including ministers.
"However, they should bear in mind that they must fulfill
their oaths to work until their terms end," he said.
Separately, Zarkasih Nur, outgoing chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) faction at the House, suspected the
ministers' exit was aimed at maintaining the status quo.
"The exodus serves as evidence of those people's greed of
power. They intentionally abandoned their administrative jobs for
seats at the next Assembly," he said.
Lili Asdjudiredja, a legislator of the ruling Golkar Party,
alleged the resigned ministers were trying to escape
investigations into corruption leveled on them in the past.
"It will be ironic if the ministers changed costume to gain
political immunity in case investigation into their alleged
involvement in corruption cases in the past is launched," said
Lili, who chaired the House special committee in charge of probes
into the Bank Bali scandal.
Separately, Fahmi Idris denied accusations that he resigned to
help Golkar gain more support for Habibie's presidential bid.
Fahmi, Theo and Agung are deputies to Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung and are members of a team responsible to make Habibie's
presidential campaign a success.
Fahmi said he and other ministers decided to resign to enable
them to focus on more important duties during the MPR General
Session.
Separately, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) decided on Wednesday to dismiss Adiwarsita Adinegoro,
head of the chamber's forestry and plantation division, for
defying an order to decline his nomination as a People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislator.
Kadin's secretary-general Iman Sucipto Umar said in a
statement that Adiwarsita would not represent the chamber, one of
the interest groups selected to fill 65 seats in the MPR.
The General Elections Commission appointed Adiwarsita,
disregarding the chamber's nomination of chairman Aburizal
Bakrie.
In Yogyakarta, former minister of finance Fuad Bawazier
secured a berth at the MPR as one of the province's five
representatives.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
grabbed two MPR seats with the elections of Arief Nursediyanto
and Katin Subiantoro, while PAN and the Golkar Party obtained one
seat each with the respective appointments of Purdi Chandra and
Herman Prayitno.
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, hundreds of students vacated
the provincial legislative council on Wednesday after a two-day
sit-in. Acting chairman of the council Morra Karaeng Bilu
promised to heed their demand to review Monday's election of
controversial Golkar figure Arnold A. Baramuli as the province's
representative to the MPR.
Baramuli, who is a close ally of Habibie, has become the
target of public and legislative outrage for his alleged
involvement in the Bank Bali scandal. (30/44/emf/rms/43)
JAKARTA (JP): Instead of praise, the recent departure of seven
Cabinet members has drawn criticism among politicians who deem
the move as an effort to ease pressure on President B.J. Habibie
when he holds his accountability speech before the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Justice and Unity Party (PKP) figure Sarwono Kusumaatmadja,
who is a former Cabinet member, said on Wednesday the exodus
violated political ethics.
"Although lawful, if I were a minister, I would stay in the
Cabinet to help the President take account of his administration
and incoming members of the MPR General Session," he said at a
seminar on corruption and human rights abuses.
Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry
Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid,
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono,
Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris, Minister of Tourism, Arts and
Culture Marzuki Usman and State Minister of Public Housing and
Settlement Theo L. Sambuaga quit their posts on Monday after
being elected MPR members.
The 1999 Law on the Composition of the Assembly, House of
Representatives, Provincial and Regency Legislatures says MPR
membership is open to everybody, including ministers.
"However, they should bear in mind that they must fulfill
their oaths to work until their terms end," he said.
Separately, Zarkasih Nur, outgoing chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) faction at the House, suspected the
ministers' exit was aimed at maintaining the status quo.
"The exodus serves as evidence of those people's greed of
power. They intentionally abandoned their administrative jobs for
seats at the next Assembly," he said.
Lili Asdjudiredja, a legislator of the ruling Golkar Party,
alleged the resigned ministers were trying to escape
investigations into corruption leveled on them in the past.
"It will be ironic if the ministers changed costume to gain
political immunity in case investigation into their alleged
involvement in corruption cases in the past is launched," said
Lili, who chaired the House special committee in charge of probes
into the Bank Bali scandal.
Separately, Fahmi Idris denied accusations that he resigned to
help Golkar gain more support for Habibie's presidential bid.
Fahmi, Theo and Agung are deputies to Golkar chairman Akbar
Tandjung and are members of a team responsible to make Habibie's
presidential campaign a success.
Fahmi said he and other ministers decided to resign to enable
them to focus on more important duties during the MPR General
Session.
Separately, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) decided on Wednesday to dismiss Adiwarsita Adinegoro,
head of the chamber's forestry and plantation division, for
defying an order to decline his nomination as a People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislator.
Kadin's secretary-general Iman Sucipto Umar said in a
statement that Adiwarsita would not represent the chamber, one of
the interest groups selected to fill 65 seats in the MPR.
The General Elections Commission appointed Adiwarsita,
disregarding the chamber's nomination of chairman Aburizal
Bakrie.
In Yogyakarta, former minister of finance Fuad Bawazier
secured a berth at the MPR as one of the province's five
representatives.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
grabbed two MPR seats with the elections of Arief Nursediyanto
and Katin Subiantoro, while PAN and the Golkar Party obtained one
seat each with the respective appointments of Purdi Chandra and
Herman Prayitno.
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, hundreds of students vacated
the provincial legislative council on Wednesday after a two-day
sit-in. Acting chairman of the council Morra Karaeng Bilu
promised to heed their demand to review Monday's election of
controversial Golkar figure Arnold A. Baramuli as the province's
representative to the MPR.
Baramuli, who is a close ally of Habibie, has become the
target of public and legislative outrage for his alleged
involvement in the Bank Bali scandal. (30/44/emf/rms/43)