Rumors of new ministers wanting to resign denied
Rumors of new ministers wanting to resign denied
JAKARTA (JP): As speculation of cracks in the relationship
between President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri mounted on Thursday, rumors of newly appointed
ministers wanting to bail out of the Cabinet began to circulate.
Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Erna
Witoelar, one of the three ministers tasked with drafting the
structure of the new Cabinet, staved off the reports.
"I've never heard about that. I don't think the reports are
true," Erna contended.
The rumor mill stated that State Minister of Administrative
Reforms Ryaas Rasyid and Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Yusril Ihza Mahendra were willing to resign.
Many people believe Ryaas, the former state minister for
regional autonomy, is disappointed with his new post.
A palace source said Ryaas was set to take over from Surjadi
Soedirdja as the minister of home affairs.
Meanwhile, Yusril reportedly asked the central board of
executives of the Crescent and Star Party which he chairs whether
he should resign or not.
Erna denied the rumors, but said that the structure of the
Cabinet announced by Abdurrahman on Wednesday differed from the
proposal her team of three had proposed.
The team compromised herself, Ryaas and Minister of Energy and
Mines Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has been appointed the
coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs.
"We suggested 17 departments and three state ministers, but
the President announced 16 departments and five state ministers,"
Erna said.
She said the team had suggested that the offices of state
minister of environment and state minister of research and
technology be dissolved.
Separately, new defense minister Muhammad Mahfud MD stated his
readiness to reveal his wealth and welcomed any efforts to audit
his private (family) assets.
"I have only one car, an old Toyota Starlet," he told
reporters at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) in
Yogyakarta on Thursday.
In response to questions at his first media briefing as a
minister, the 43-year-old constitutional law expert said he owned
no more than Rp 60 million deposited in several banks and several
plots of land.
Asked about doubts of his competence to tackle his new job, he
said he welcomed any criticism.
"Cynical reaction to the new Cabinet is normal. A new Cabinet
lineup usually becomes a target of criticism, and disappointment
expressed by certain parties is normal," he said.
He said the President wanted him to arrange the legal basis
for the future position of the Indonesian Military in line with
the modern principle of keeping the military separate from
politics. "It is not an easy job," he said. (44/sur/jun)