Reform and Development Cabinet boasts several fresh faces

JAKARTA (JP): About two-thirds of the 36-member Reform and Development Cabinet is comprised of members of the previous Cabinet. Here are profiles of the 16 new faces brought in by President B.J. Habibie:

Minister of Home Affairs: Syarwan Hamid

His name became familiar to the public when he served as Armed Forces spokesman in 1995. He moved up to the position of Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs a year later.

Born on the country's Heroes Day of Nov. 10 55 years ago, Syarwan currently heads the Armed Forces faction in the House of Representatives.

The 1966 graduate of the Military Academy holds the rank of lieutenant-general.

He takes over from his senior, Gen. (ret.) Hartono.

Minister of Information: Yunus Yosfiah

Former Armed Forces sociopolitical affairs chief Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus Yosfiah was installed earlier this month as secretary of development operations.

The 54-year-old's respected military career includes a stint as the commander of the Sriwijaya military command.

He is married with four children.

Yunus takes over from Alwi Dahlan.

Minister of Agriculture: Soleh Solahuddin

Famous for his countless studies and writings on agronomy, Soleh was rector of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) where he first earned a degree in 1972.

He earned a postgraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, United States.

Upon his return here, his posts included a stint as the dean of the agricultural school at IPB and rector at Haluoleo University in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

Married with six children, Soleh, 54, replaces Justika S. Baharsjah. The latter assumes the post of minister of social affairs, replacing Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.

Minister of Forestry: Muslimin Nasution

Has served in the People's Consultative Assembly since 1992, and most recently was deputy chairman of the National Development Planning Board.

Married with three children, Muslimin, 59, is a graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology.

The Surabaya, East Java, native replaces Sumahadi.

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture: Marzuki Usman

A new post created by Soeharto when he formed his cabinet in March. Marzuki replaces Abdul Latief who resigned last week.

Marzuki has held several posts, including head of the training and education body at the Ministry of Finance, and commissioner of the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

Born in Mersam, Jambi, on Dec. 30, 1943, Marzuki is a graduate of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. He earned a master's degree in economics from Duke University in the U.S. in 1975.

Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises: Adi Sasono

Initially made a reputation for himself working in non- governmental organizations. In recent years, he has been perceived as a loyal assistant of current President B.J. Habibie through the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) where he serves as secretary-general.

Another graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology, Adi is also director of the ICMI-based Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES).

Adi, 55, replaces Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya.

Minister of Manpower: Fahmi Idris

He takes over from Theo L. Sambuaga, who has been appointed state minister of public housing and settlement.

Continues the tradition of Abdul Latief and Tanri Abeng, all famous, successful businessmen who have served as ministers.

He is president of the Kodel Group, which has diversified interests including property.

In recent years, he has been active in the dominant Golkar faction as head of the cooperatives and business department of the Golkar board under Harmoko.

Born in Jakarta on Sept. 20, 1943, Fahmi is married with two daughters.

Minister of Religious Affairs: Malik Fajar

Formerly served at the ministry as director general for the upbuilding of Moslem institutions. Now takes over the post from Quraish Shihab.

One of the deputy chairmen of the influential Muhammadiyah Moslem organization headed by Amien Rais.

His past work include successfully developing the Muhammadiyah universities in Malang, East Java, and Surakarta, Central Java.

Minister of Finance: Bambang Subianto

The former director general of financial institutions replaces his boss Fuad Bawazir. Bambang was born in Madiun on Jan. 10, 1945. A graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology, he went on to earn a doctorate from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

Prior to assuming his post at the directorate under the Ministry of Finance, Bambang worked for more than 10 years at the University of Indonesia.

State Minister of Research and Technology/Chairman of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology: Zuhal

The former director general for electricity and energy development takes over the post only recently filled by Rahardi Ramelan, now minister of industry and trade.

Zuhal, 57, boasts a long list of important posts mostly connected to the provision of energy. He served as president of the state-owned electricity company PLN between 1992 and 1995.

State Minister of Food and Horticulture : A.M. Saefuddin

The A.M. stands for Ahmad Muflih.

Brought in to replace Haryanto Dhanutirto, Saefuddin is the other PPP legislator appointed to the cabinet by Habibie.

Saefuddin is also a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

State Minister for Investment: Hamzah Haz

One of the two United Development Party (PPP) legislators brought into the cabinet.

Hamzah, 58, was head of the faction at the House of Representatives, and has been a career politician since the 1971 general election when he was a candidate for the then Nahdlatul Ulema Party.

Born in West Kalimantan, Hamzah is the father of 12 children.

He replaces Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo.

State Minister of Land Affairs/Chairman of the National Land Agency : Hasan Basri Durin

The former governor of West Sumatra replaces Golkar secretary- general Ary Mardjono as minister.

Known as a leading figure among the ethnic West Sumatran community, Hasan, 63, has an illustrious record in his 40-year service as a civil servant, including posts as governor of Padang.

Most recently Hasan headed the Regional Representatives faction during the March session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

State Minister of Environment/Chairman of the Environmental Impact Management Agency: Panangian Siregar

One of the 11 Indonesian Democratic Party members in the House of Representatives.

Panangian was deputy chairman of the faction in charge of industry and development.

He assumes the non-portfolio post from Juwono Sudarsono, who replaces Wiranto Arismunandar as education and culture minister.

State Minister of Population/Chairman of the National Family Planning Board: Ida Bagus Oka

Made his name as governor of the resort island of Bali.

He received a medical degree from Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, and subsequently taught at Udayana University in Bali. After serving as dean of its medical school, he was appointed rector of the state university.

He is also a member of the Regional Representatives faction in the People's Consultative Assembly.

State Minister of National Development Planning/Chairman of National Development Planning Board: Boediono

Was a director of Bank Indonesia until March, and most of his career has been in the banking sector.

Educated abroad, he obtained a bachelor's degree at the University of Western Australia. After receiving a master's degree in economics at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, he continued on to the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S., where he earned a doctorate in business economics.

Boediono still holds the position of president of the board of commissioners at PT Bank PDFCI.