Ryaas Rasyid firm on quitting cabinet

Ryaas Rasyid firm on quitting cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Administrative Reforms
Ryaas Rasyid reasserted his personal desire to quit the cabinet
early this month.

Ryaas said he had asked for an appointment to be scheduled
with President Abdurrahman Wahid to officially tender his
resignation from the cabinet.

"I don't know the precise date I officially leave the cabinet
because it will depend on the president's availability to receive
me so I can hand over the letter of resignation," he said, adding
that he had already written a resignation letter in December.

Ryaas further revealed that he had also consulted with Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tandjung regarding his decision.

"I consulted with the vice president on Dec. 26, and she gave
her support after listening to all the reasons behind my
decision," he said at his residence on Saturday while adding that
he is keen to go back to teaching, particularly back at the State
Administration Institute (IIP).

Ryaas declined to be forthright on his reasons for resigning
saying only: "I can't understand Gus Dur and the way he leads the
administration. I'll give an explanation in detail later."

Ryaas added that he had a moral obligation to complete his
main duty on the restructurization program in the bureaucracy and
his office during the 2000 fiscal year that ended in December and
that is why he is resigning in the New Year.

Ryaas, a key figure in drafting regional autonomy, also hinted
that his resignation from the cabinet was related with his
disappointment over preparations for the decentralization
plan.(rms)