SBY asks people to trust him
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
A minister from Papua, a civilian for the defense ministry and three coordinating ministers -- these are the few details of the new Cabinet announced by president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
On Thursday he reiterated that coordinating ministers would still be needed to supervise over 30 ministries despite a number of new councils; and that he alone was responsible for the forthcoming decisions.
"I will talk one-on-one to test whether the candidates meet the criteria. Some may say that SBY is being dictated to by A or B ... that's impossible," he said, referring to his popular acronym. "The final decision, I can assure (you), will be in my hands, trust me," he announced during an informal meeting with the press at his residence in Cikeas, Bogor.
"Beginning on Friday (today), I will take some time to be alone and start interviewing my would-be Cabinet members ... I will only invite strong candidates and decisions will be made only after I have collected input from many parties," he said.
He said the coordinating ministers would be one that handled political, legal and security affairs, another for the economy and one for people's welfare. Powers of the current chief security post, which he resigned from to run for president, may be "slightly affected", he said, referring to the "legal" affairs inserted in the new position.
The coordinating ministers would also help him "deal with all the governors of the 32 provinces, as well as other councils and commissions that the state has."
A political analyst, Denny JA, had said after meeting Susilo on Tuesday that the councils would be supervised by a presidential office comprising trusted aides -- a "West Wing"- like think tank similar to the one at the U.S. White House.
The criteria for all candidates includes integrity, capability and "acceptability," Susilo said.
At least four officers would be given the job of spokesperson, speech writer, note taker and legal advisor, respectively in his "West Wing".
The revelation that at least one minister would be from Papua follows a statement from scholar Andi Mallarangeng, that Susilo would take pluralism into account in forming the Cabinet.
Critics have questioned the government's goodwill in implementing the special autonomy law for Papua while continued military presence remains the foremost visible approach to security problems there.
As for the defense minister, Susilo, a retired general, said that he would appoint a civilian to ensure continued reform in the military. That person, he said, would be someone who understood problems about the civilian-military relationship, especially on "how to place the military toward the perspectives of democracy and human rights."
Asked whether he would also pick figures representing the country's two largest Muslim organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, Susilo said with smile, "It has become a tradition to pick an NU member to fill the post of minister of religious affairs ... but we'll see, I won't go to extremes and ignore such common traditions."
He added he would try to ensure that his ministerial line-up was complete before being sworn next Wednesday, Oct. 20.
He disclosed that he was looking forward to meeting newly reelected Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Malaysian leader Ahmad Badawi, both of whom have announced plans to attend his swearing-in ceremony.