Sarwono doesn't expect to be reappointed

Sarwono doesn't expect to be reappointed

JAKARTA (JP): Outgoing State Minister of Environment Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja said yesterday that he did not expect to serve
another term as a cabinet minister.

However, the final decision would lie with the next president,
Sarwono said at a media conference held in his Jakarta office.

"My point is that I don't make a fuss. It (appointing aides)
is the problem of the president-elect," he told journalists when
asked about his chances of a ministerial post in the next
cabinet.

The 1993/1998 cabinet will be dissolved today. Outgoing
ministers, led by Vice President Try Sutrisno, bid farewell to
President Soeharto at the State Palace this afternoon.

Soeharto will this morning deliver his accountability speech
to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). He is widely
expected to be reelected later in the General Session's
proceedings.

The new cabinet is usually announced by the president one week
after the General Session which runs from today until March 11.
The 1,000-member body have convened to elect a president and vice
president for the next five years. They will also endorse the
State Policy Guidelines during the Session.

Asked what he planned to do when relieved of his ministerial
responsibilities, Sarwono joked that he would like to be
nominated as vice president.

"What I will not want to be is nominated commissioner of
timber estates or textile companies," he said.

Sarwono has twice served Soeharto as a minister. His previous
post was as state minister of administrative reforms. He was also
secretary-general of the dominant Golkar political organization
from 1983 to 1988.

Sarwono stated that he had high hopes that the future cabinet
would be able to boost domestic and international confidence in
the government of Indonesia.

"That should be the country's first priority when speaking
about the new cabinet," he added. (aan)