Soeharto swears in the new cabinet
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto swore in his new 36-strong cabinet in a solemn ceremony at the State Palace yesterday.
Moslem clergyman Basiq Djalil, standing next to the 34 ministers who are Moslem, held a Koran above their heads, while Jason Lase held a Bible for Minister of Manpower Theo Sambuaga, the lone Christian in the cabinet, to put his hand on.
They repeated after the President to be faithful to the Constitution and the nation, and to uphold its laws. They further promised not to succumb to bribes or to abuse their posts by providing undue privileges.
The cabinet consists of 4 coordinating ministers, 20 ministers with portfolios, 10 state ministers and the governor of Bank Indonesia, Sjahril Sabirin, and Attorney General Soedjono Chanafiah Atmonegoro, who are given ministerial ranks.
Sjahril did not take his oath yesterday as he had been installed as the central bank governor in February.
Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI) commander Gen. Wiranto was sworn in only as a minister because he had been installed as ABRI's chief last month.
Ten ministers from the former cabinet were again chosen by Soeharto to sit in the current cabinet.
The current cabinet is smaller with 36 positions compared to the previous one, which had 41 when it was sworn in in 1993.
Outgoing ministers of the former cabinet were also present at the ceremony. However, Joop Ave, Inten Suweno and Mien Sugandhi were absent.
Standing in the background were the spouses and children of the new ministers who were glowing with pride.
Minister of Social Services Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, Minister of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah and State Minister of Women Roles Tutty Alawiah, the three women in the cabinet, were accompanied by their husbands at the ceremony.
Justika replaced her own husband, Sjarifudin, for the same position.
The 30-minute ceremony was broadcasted live by state-owned TVRI and RRI.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the new ministers received congratulations from the President, Vice President B.J. Habibie and his wife Ainur and other guests, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Harmoko.
The President shook hands with all of the ministers and their spouses who stood in a row, but when he got to Hardiyanti, his eldest daughter, Soeharto could not help but give her a hug and a kiss.
Standing next to Hardiyanti, commonly referred to as Tutut, was her husband Indra Rukmana.
The cabinet members and their spouses then proceeded to the terrace of Merdeka Palace for photographs with Soeharto and Habibie before leaving the Palace in their new Volvo sedans and adjutants. (prb)