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)