Seven ministers to resign for new seats in Assembly

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)