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)