Soeharto may announce new cabinet on Saturday
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)