Support grows for nonindigenous ministers

SEMARANG (JP): Support is growing among scholars for the recent suggestion that nonindigenous Indonesians be included in the next cabinet.

Muladi of the National Commission on Human Rights said Tuesday that, while this was "no problem," only the president could decide the cabinet lineup.

"There's no law that says that cabinet ministers have to be indigenous Indonesians," said Muladi, also rector of Diponegoro University.

Nonindigenous usually means Indonesians of Chinese descent, a minority but economically powerful ethnic group.

"In this era of globalization, what is important is that the ministers, be they indigenous or nonindigenous Indonesians, must be people of good quality," Muladi said.

Political analyst Susilo Utomo of Diponegoro University agreed with Muladi. He said yesterday that indigenous or nonindigenous Indonesians had the same opportunity for inclusion in the next cabinet.

He said the 1945 Constitution did not refer to the ethnicity of cabinet ministers, and that people were usually given portfolios because they were trusted and approved by the President.

Susilo cited several people of Chinese descent who would be capable cabinet ministers, including Kwik Kian Gie of the Indonesian Democratic Party, Christianto Wibisono who heads the Indonesian Center of Business Data, and tycoon Anthony Salim.

"I hope that in the next cabinet there will be at least one minister from a non-indigenous group," he said. (har/05)