State Secretary Ali Rahman quits

JAKARTA (JP): State Secretary Ali Rahman has resigned from the Cabinet.

President Abdurrahman Wahid confirmed on Tuesday Ali's exit, but did not elaborate on the reasons behind it.

"Pak Ali Rahman resigned at his own request," the President said during his trip in London.

Here in Jakarta, sources told The Jakarta Post that Abdurrahman had called on Ali to resign during a Cabinet meeting on Jan. 27, prior to the President's overseas trip.

The high-ranking Cabinet source, who asked not to be named, said two candidates were considered for the post adding that an announcement was initially expected upon the President's return.

The source said the resignation was part of the President's commitment to weed out those possibly involved in alleged corruption.

Ali becomes the second Cabinet member to "resign" following Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Hamzah Haz's sudden exit in November.

Rumors of a Cabinet shake-up occurred last month with Abdurrahman hinting he might replace Ali with State Minister of the Empowerment of Women Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Abdurrahman first hinted of a shake-up just weeks into his presidency when he said several ministers were being investigated for alleged corruption.

Ali was also reportedly unhappy with his work as the President had siphoned much of the State Secretariat's power.

Another senior official told the Post that Khofifah was not among the candidates to replace Ali, saying that the two prospective candidates were not party members.

The official also divulged that Ali was being investigated for possible involvement in alleged corruption during his term as deputy chairman of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

When asked by the Post, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman confirmed that an investigation was conducted but stressed that if Ali resigned it was due to internal restructuring.

"If he is resigning it's due to restructuring in the State Secretariat," Marzuki said.

When pressed whether it was due to his involvement in corruption, Marzuki simply replied: "that's another matter".

But Marzuki did confirm that "a process" had been conducted.

"It has, and it has been reported to the President," he said about the investigation.

He refused to divulge the findings.

"I can't, I'm not allowed. It's a confidential report". (04/byg/prb)