Subagyo turns down job offer

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)