Susilo denies resignation report

JAKARTA (JP): Another rumor of several ministers considering withdrawal from the Cabinet over disappointment with President Abdurrahman Wahid's management of his team has spread throughout the capital.

But Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quick to deny that he was among the discontent.

"The report released by some media saying that I will resign is untrue," Susilo told an unscheduled press conference held to clarify the media report.

In this week's edition of Tempo magazine, published on Monday, an unidentified minister was quoted as saying that Susilo, State Minister of Administrative Reforms Ryaas Rasyid and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra were planning to resign.

The latest Cabinet of Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, was only appointed in August. Gus Dur said the major reshuffle of the previous Cabinet was conducted due to its ineffectiveness.

Susilo said he and other Cabinet ministers were all cooperating and working hard to help the country cope with social, political and security problems.

Susilo likened the government to a big ship sailing in the ocean.

"When the tide shakes the ship, I won't search for a lifeboat and save myself.

"Speculation of my resignation because the government is now unstable and the position of Gus Dur as the President is in trouble is entirely untrue," Susilo insisted.

"But if there is a minister who cannot get along with the President and Vice President, he or she is free to quit. But I'm not."

Susilo also denied that there were communication problems between the President and some of his ministers.

"I can communicate well with the President," Susilo said.

He asserted that he had pledged allegiance to the President and Vice President as an institution, not persons.

The weekly news magazine asserted that three ministers of the Cabinet, including Susilo, were considering resigning because they could contribute under Gus Dur's leadership.

Critical

Separately, Yusril was reluctant to respond to the rumors asserted and made it clear that he would continue being critical of the President.

"I cannot give any comment on that since I've never talked or spoken about the (resignation) issue. Up to present I haven't read the report and therefore I do not wish to be confronted with it," he told journalist after the endorsement of the three bills on Intellectual Property Rights at the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Monday.

"I do not want to respond to rumors or unclear issues.

"I am a man with a legal background, and used to talking about fact, which is black and white. I'm sorry I cannot answer such a question," he said.

"As for me being critical of the President ... it is a normal thing to do. I'm used to presenting my opinion from a legal point of view on issues.

"I'm saying it as it is. If a stance is wrong I wouldn't say it is right, and vice versa."

He said he was of a different opinion from the President on the House special committee which is now investigating financial scandals linked to the President.

"The President insists that the committee is illegal, but in my legal opinion, the House has a strong legal basis to form the committee and exercise its inquisitorial rights," Yusril said. (02/edt)