Secretary-general goes in education reshuffle

JAKARTA (JP): The secretary-general for education was replaced on Thursday afternoon in a surprise reshuffle at the Ministry of National Education.

In a modest handover ceremony, secretary-general Hidayat Syarief was replaced by Makmuri Muchlas, previously the director general for informal education, youth and sports.

Makmuri Muchlas's post will be taken by Fasli Jalal, an adviser on education and culture to the Minister of National Education, Yahya Muhaimin.

In another change, Toto Cholik Mutohir was appointed director- general for sports, a sector now separated from the directorate- general for informal education and youth.

Toto is currently the rector of Surabaya State University in East Java.

"This is a regular tour of duty... it's kind of a sudden replacement but it's a normal thing," Yahya said after the inauguration.

He had received a decree on Wednesday from Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri implementing the changes. "As for the reasons... you should ask her."

Presidential Decree No. 99/M/2001 was signed by Megawati on behalf of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Hidayat refused to comment on his sudden replacement, having been notified only hours before the ceremony.

"I have to pack my things. We'll talk later," he said.

Meanwhile, Toto said his priority was to prepare for the next Southeast Asian Games, scheduled for next year.

"Our country's sports achievement is lagging far behind and we need to boost this... we cannot stay too long in a crisis," he said. (edt)