Ruling party prepares list of candidates for next cabinet

Ruling party prepares list of candidates for next cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar has prepared a list of names which it
considers suitable candidates for cabinet positions, but said it
would not present it unless asked for suggestions by the next
president.

"We won't initiate a move to propose our people for the
cabinet. But we'll be ready with a list of our most suitable
cadres should the elected president asks for names," Golkar
secretary-general Ary Mardjono told reporters.

But he stressed the list would only contain names and not be
accompanied by the posts each individual should be assigned to.

"No, we won't present to the elected president a complete list
of prospective candidates complete with their cabinet post," he
said.

So far President Soeharto has not asked Golkar for a list of
possible candidates for the next cabinet.

"The new president is not elected yet. How can we talk about
names for the cabinet?" Ary said.

"Perhaps, after the Assembly's General Session is over," he
replied when asked when these names might be required.

Golkar is not the first faction to produce a list of
prospective candidates for the cabinet.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction declared last month
that it had drawn up a list of people who deserved ministerial
posts.

But both Golkar and PPP maintain their intention is not to try
and get their respective supporters into the cabinet.

PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said the party was merely
trying to give the next president ideas, rather than put pressure
on him.

"We won't feel disappointed if our contribution is rejected,"
he said.

Ary said Golkar was not looking to gain a certain percentage
of seats in the cabinet lineup.

"Golkar understands that the composition of the next cabinet
is the prerogative of the elected president," he said.

He refused to reveal the names on the Golkar list but said,
without elaborating, that all met the necessary criteria to be a
cabinet member.

"We have chosen our best cadres for the ministerial posts," he
assured, adding that only Golkar members were on the list.

Ary said the list was prepared in a descending order according
to priority but he balked when pressed further to reveal even the
top name on the list.

"I know but I won't tell you, who he or she is," he said.

Asked for the total number of cadres Golkar would propose to
the elected president, Ary said the organization had no authority
to divulge such information to the press.

Observers have predicted there will be a massive restructuring
of the cabinet, especially in light of the current monetary
crisis.

Reliable sources have said the next cabinet will consist of 25
ministers and ministerial-ranked officials. The outgoing cabinet
consists of 41 ministers and officials.

Support is continuing to grow for the next president to
include a Chinese-Indonesian in his cabinet as recognition that
the ethnic group is a valued part of the nation.

The dominant Golkar is reportedly considering proposing three
business tycoons to the new president. They are Anthony Salim of
the Salim Group of companies, James T. Riyadi of the Lippo Group
and Enggartiasto Lukito, a property businessman.

Ary dismissed speculation that the next cabinet would be
dominated by members of the Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI).

"I don't think that ICMI members will play a dominant role as
the president will be the sole decisionmaker in the cabinet
lineup," he said. (imn)