Susilo Bambang denies rumors to resign from the cabinet

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.