Susilo Bambang denies rumors to resign from the cabinet

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied on Wednesday rumors that he will resign from the cabinet for the sake of his presidential bid.

He said he will continue working as a cabinet minister and asserted that the rumors will not affect his state duties.

"I would like to clarify that the circulating rumor is baseless," Susilo said after a meeting with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar to discuss, among other issues, terrorism and security preparations ahead of the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year celebrations and the 2004 general election.

Rumors of the minister's resignation have been rife since September, following an informal meeting with former president B.J. Habibie in Germany on his way to the United States to attend the Antiterrorism Summit.

The meeting sparked anger among executives of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), who suggested that the President dismiss Susilo from the cabinet on the grounds that the German trip was irrelevant to his state duties.

The rumors resurfaced recently when PDI Perjuangan senior member AP Batubara said Susilo planned to quit the cabinet in December this year, to focus on his presidential bid.

Batubara claimed to have been informed by Susilo's aides.

Apart from Susilo, fellow cabinet members Jusuf Kalla, Agum Gumelar and Yusril Ihza Mahendra, as well as Vice President Hamzah Haz, have expressed interest in contesting the presidential election.

Some PDI Perjuangan members have said that the cabinet ministers could undermine Megawati's government if they do not resign.

While the others remain silent, Kalla, who is one of seven presidential candidates representing Golkar, has said he will not bow to such demands.

Susilo, who refused to join the Golkar's convention to select its presidential candidate, has received support from the Democrat Party and reportedly been approached by the National Awakening Party (PKB) to partner with Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has proposed that the direct presidential election be held on July 5, with the expected run-off on Sept. 20.