Susilo, Kalla set to resign to join presidential election

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two senior ministers expressed their readiness to resign before challenging incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the direct presidential election as stipulated in a draft government regulation.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, touted as the strongest contenders for Megawati, said they would quit the Cabinet as soon as they were formally named presidential hopefuls.

Susilo said he was among the ministers who supported the rules of the game.

"If a party that is eligible to contest the presidential election nominates me and I accept the nomination, I will resign from the Cabinet," Susilo said.

"I will not wait for the President to issue a decree to suspend me, I will leave the post voluntarily," Susilo said.

Kalla responded in the same manner, saying leaving the Cabinet was the most appropriate thing to do before he challenges the President.

"That is what I would do. Ministers who wish to run for president should leave the Cabinet," he remarked.

As the presidential election draws near, the government is drafting a regulation imposed on the president, vice president and Cabinet ministers in connection with their participation in the elections.

The present Cabinet consists of figures from different political parties, five of whom have expressed interest in contesting the presidential election, including President Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz who will be nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the United Development Party (PPP) respectively.

Several parties, including the Democratic Party, have expressed their intention to support Susilo as presidential aspirant, while Kalla is among seven candidates from Golkar Party.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra looks certain to run for president as the candidate of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

Then cabinet ministers Akbar Tandjung and Hamzah Haz resigned to focus on their party jobs prior to the general election in 1999.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Monday the regulation would stipulate that ministers be suspended as soon as the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared them presidential hopefuls on May 19.

He said there would be a presidential decree to suspend the ministers and to appoint interim officials to replace them.

The landmark direct presidential election is scheduled to take place on July 5. Only parties or a group of parties that win 3 percent of the vote in the April 5 general election are allowed to nominate presidential candidates.

The draft regulation will also arrange for the President, Vice President and ministers to take time off during the campaign period.

The government officials are not allowed to use state facilities while campaigning for their respective political parties.

;JP;DJA; ANPAa..r.. Polls-Megawati-resign Can Mega be an exception? JP/2/BOX

Can Mega be an exception?

In a bid to reduce its campaign budget, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is proposing that its chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri be allowed to campaign while conducting state duties.

Insisting that the President should not take leave during the 20-day campaign period as it will adversely affect decision making in state affairs, the party said Megawati could insert her campaign program into her working visits.

"There will be problems if the President takes leave, therefore she could take one or two hours out of her working visit for campaigning," PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said after the party's weekly meeting on Tuesday.

He said the party would cover Megawati's expenses during the two hours, but was uncertain whether the party would pay for the President's travel expenses.

The government has said the state will only provide security from presidential details for Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz during their campaigns.

Pramono said the party was not trying to abuse the state facilities for the party's interests, saying it would offer to share the burden with the government.-- JP