Support grows for nonindigenous ministers

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)