Seven ministers to resign for new seats in Assembly

JAKARTA (JP): More ministers will be holding dual posts in the current, following the announcement that seven Cabinet members will be serving as members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

As of Monday, the ministers -- Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris, Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman who is also Minister of Investment, and Minister of Housing and Settlement Theo L. Sambuaga -- had either submitted or were set to submit their resignation from the Cabinet.

The ministers have been elected by provincial councils as members of the regional and interest group representatives factions in the 700-member Assembly.

Each province is allocated five representatives.

Minister/State Secretary Muladi confirmed on Monday that Cabinet ministers would hold dual posts to cover the vacancies.

Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms Hartarto Sastrosoenarto will take over from Ginanjar who is set to represent West Java in the Assembly.

Minister of Transmigration and Resettlement of Forest Squatters AM Hendropriyono will take Fahmi's post, Minister of Public Works Rachmadi Bambang Sumadhijo will be responsible for Theo's portfolio.

Marzuki Usman's portfolio will be taken over by Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono, while the Minister of Investment role will be held by Minister of Research and Technology Zuhal.

AM Saefuddin's responsibilities will now be handled by Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin, while Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono will take over Agung Laksono's portfolio.

Joining the seven cabinet ministers at the Assembly will be Supreme Advisory Council chairman A.A. Baramuli, who will represent South Sulawesi.

His new position was protested on Monday by some 200 Hasanuddin University students outside the local Council in Ujungpandang.

"Bastard legislators ... Why did you pick Baramuli as regional representative," shouted one of the protesters.

Provincial Golkar Party branch chief Arifin Nu'mang frankly told the protesters that Baramuli's election was needed to garner support for President B.J. Habibie's reelection.

"For all of this time, Baramuli has been Habibie's motor, especially in gaining support from the eastern part of the country," Arifin said.

Baramuli has been the target of public and legislative ire for his alleged involvement in the Bank Bali scandal.

In neighboring North Sulawesi, Golkar again showed their might as their nominees swept all five regional representative seats.

Minister Theo Sambuaga received the second highest number of votes during the Council meeting in Manado on Monday.

The four other successful Golkar representatives were Edwin Kawilarang, Ishak Pulukadang, Firmansyah Wuisan and Frits Eman.

Marzuki Usman was one of the 65 social group representatives selected by the General Elections Commission for the MPR. Marzuki represents the Association of Indonesian Economists. Sabam Siagian, former editor of The Jakarta Post, was also selected for the MPR as the representative of the Society of Indonesian Christian Intellectuals. (prb/30/37/edt)