Soeharto may announce new cabinet on Saturday

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is expected to announce the line-up for the 1998/2003 cabinet on Saturday morning, a source close to the palace said.

The source said the hasty formation of the cabinet reflected the President's deep concern over the lingering economic crisis.

"With the formation of the new cabinet, the President can start working to deal with the economic crisis," said the source, who requested anonymity.

Other sources also confirmed that preparations have been made for a scheduled 9 a.m. announcement, to be broadcast live by the state-owned TVRI and the five private television stations.

Vice President B.J. Habibie will accompany the President in announcing the new cabinet, the source said.

Although refusing to divulge names, Golkar officials have said they have prepared a list of eligible candidates to be presented to the President should he request the group's input.

Many have also stressed that the next cabinet must be streamlined and be geared to deal with the economic crisis.

Former minister of finance Frans Seda told The Jakarta Post that the next cabinet should take immediate action to settle the prolonged crisis.

"The cabinet ministers should be able to help the President secure the country from the ongoing monetary crisis, otherwise the situation will worsen," he said.

"They should also help the President restore the people's and international society's confidence in the government," he said, further noting that the people's mistrust of the government was one of the factors which had triggered the crisis.

Frans recommended cabinet ministers be specialists in their respective fields.

He urged prospective ministers to be more astute and willing to resign if they find they are unqualified for their posts.

"It is high time cabinet ministers stopped hiding behind the President and took responsibility for their mismanagement or misconduct," he insisted.

Frans did not dismiss the possibility of re-recruiting ministers from previous cabinets. "What we now need are qualified cabinet ministers, no matter how old they are," he said.

President Soeharto's half brother, Probosutedjo, said ethnicity should not be a determining factor in selecting ministers and there should be no prejudice against an ethnic Chinese in the cabinet.

More important than the issue of ethnicity, he said, was that "there must be no unqualified or arrogant ministers".

The United Development Party's (PPP) Khofifah Indar Parawansa underlined the importance of the careful placement of individuals in suitable posts.

"The placement of the cabinet ministers should be based on the principle of the right person in the right place," she told reporters.

She added that the new ministers should be tougher and more professional than their predecessors.

Ministers should also comply with social and religious ethics and moral values while performing their tasks and responsibilities, she said. (imn/prb)