Search goes on for Cabinet choices
Tiarma Siboro The Jakarta Post/Bogor
President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono interviewed economists, businesspeople and incumbent Cabinet ministers on Saturday as he beefed up the search for suitable candidates to join his Cabinet.
A total of six people were interviewed, but only three -- Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda and noted economist Mari Elka Pangestu of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former military chief for socio-political affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Muhammad Ma'ruf -- said they signed a "pledge" to work hard and honestly.
The other three were businessmen Aburizal Bakrie and Rahmat Gobel and current Minister for Research and Technology Hatta Rajasa.
Noted economist Sri Mulyani, now working as International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive director for Southeast Asia, was scheduled to be interviewed on Saturday but apparently she had not arrived from the United States. It is rumored that she would be named minister of finance.
Susilo interviewed only four candidates on Friday -- sociology lecturer Meutia Hatta, rector of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Kusmayanto Kadiman, a member of Susilo's campaign team Sofyan Jalil and former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Widodo A.S.
Prior to interviewing the eight ministerial candidates, Susilo held a closed-door meeting with vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla at his private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. Details of the meeting were not made public.
Aburizal arrived at Susilo's residence at around 1:40 p.m. and after an hour of discussion with the president-elect told the press that they talked a lot about economic issues, including the real and private sectors. It is rumored that Aburizal, who is also the former chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), would be appointed coordinating minister for the economy.
Mari Pangestu arrived at 2:15 p.m. and met Susilo at around 2:50 p.m. Mari told reporters after the meeting that they discussed national and international trade and how to deal with the high unemployment rate and boost economic productivity.
"I shared my views with Pak Susilo on long- and short-term programs for the economy. I told Pak Susilo how we can provide facilities for the trading sector which seems to be facing various problems," Mari said without going into detail.
Mari, who is now living with her family in the United States, said Susilo contacted her directly on Thursday, asking her to come over to his house. "We both have long been involved in a series of discussion on economic issues, and ... it seems I can understand his (economic) vision," Mari said.
She also said that she had signed a pledge to work hard and honestly. "I have signed a contract, assuring the president-elect that I'm ready to work hard and honestly," said Mari, who may possibly be named minister of trade.
The third person to be interviewed was businessman Rachmat Gobel.
"Pak Susilo asked my views on how domestic products can compete in the global market and give added value to the domestic economy, which has been plagued by crisis and how our industries can compete under the WTO and AFTA agreements," said Rachmat, who is known to be very close to Gen. (ret) Wiranto, who lost in the first phase of the presidential election in July.
Minister Hassan arrived at around 4:30 p.m. and held a discussion for one and a half hours with Susilo. He said he discussed various international issues, including global terrorist threats and bilateral and multilateral relations.
He also said that he had signed a "contract" promising to work hard and honestly.
Hatta Rajasa, secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN), is the first politician to be interviewed by Susilo.
Hatta who said PAN submitted three names -- Hatta himself, Bambang Sudibyo and Didiek J. Rachbini -- was unsure whether they all would be interviewed.