Subagyo turns down job offer

BANDUNG (JP): "No thanks," was the reply given by outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo HS when he was offered a post as the ambassador to Malaysia.

Casually speaking to journalists in the provincial capital of West Java on Monday, Subagyo revealed that he was offered an ambassador's post by then Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto.

"I was offered the ambassadorship to Malaysia," he said without disclosing when Gen. Wiranto, now the coordinating minister for political and security affairs, made the offer.

Subagyo, who is expected to officially hand over his post to Gen. Tyasno Sudarto next week, claimed that he was honored but feared that he might fail in his duty.

"I expressed my deep gratitude to the commander and told him that I was not the right man for the job. I don't want to let my chief down and I have a deep love for the TNI," Subagyo said after overseeing the handover of the command of the Infantry Weapons Center from Maj. Gen. Sutardjo to Maj. Gen. Rachman Gaffar.

"The post of ambassador, professionally and politically, needs someone who is eloquent in English. Quite honestly, I'm quite weak in that area," he added.

Speculation of Subagyo's future has been hovering for sometime, particularly as no official post was assigned for him.

But Subagyo denied that his replacement was politically motivated.

"There has been talk about my replacement as Army chief of staff since May 1998, when I was rumored to be in the same political group as Lt. Gen. Prabowo. It's true I was close to him but it was professional and personal," he said.

"I don't have any political allies, and I don't have adequate money (for political activities). What's my motivation (to be involved in politics)," he said, adding that his replacement was a natural tour of duty.

When asked to confirm reports that he would be appointed as chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), he conceded that it was very possible.(43)