Susilo-Mega spat, much ado about nothing
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya
For 20 days starting next week, members of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Cabinet will devote their time to their respective parties rather than state duties.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has registered President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta Radjasa, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea, Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, Minister of Social Bachtiar Chamsyah as campaigners.
KPU also registered People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung as campaigners.
The state officials will campaign for their respective parties during the campaign period from March 11 through April 1.
Megawati, Nuwa Wea and Soenarno will campaign for the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P), Hamzah and Bachtiar for the United Development Party (PPP), Amien and Hatta for the National Mandate Party (PAN), Yusril for the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Susilo for the Democratic Party.
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid will campaign for the National Awakening Party (PKB).
While the schedule for PDI-P leader Megawati is being arranged, PPP leader Hamzah, Golkar leader Akbar and PKB founder Abdurrahman have confirmed their trip to East Java on the first day of the campaign period.
"Pak Akbar will address Golkar supporters at Tambaksari Stadium in Surabaya on March 11," the treasurer of Golkar's East Java chapter, Anwar Kusuma, said.
Akbar's competitors in the Golkar convention for the selection of its sole presidential candidate Wiranto, Jusuf Kalla, Prabowo Subianto, Abu Rizal Bakrie and Surya Paloh will also campaign in East Java on the opening day of the campaign period.
Chairman of PPP's East Java chapter Masjkur Hasyim said Hamzah would kick off his campaign in Situbondo, one of Nahdlatul Ulama's strongholds.
KPU campaign regulations stipulate that state officials have to take leave from state duties during the campaign period.
The government is also drafting a regulation which will require the ministers, governors, regents and other officials to take leave if they are to campaign.
Under Law No. 12/2003 on general elections, election campaigns must not involve Supreme Court justices, Constitutional Court judges, ordinary court judges, the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the State Audit Agency (BPK), the Bank Indonesia governor, senior deputy governor and deputy governors, officials of state/provincial/regental companies and village heads.
State officials are restricted from using state facilities, except security from the presidential detail for the president and vice president. State facilities include official cars, state buildings, houses, state radio and television station.
According to Government Regulation No. 9/2004 on election campaigns for state officials issued on Feb. 25, 2004, the campaign schedule of the president and vice president must be submitted by the state secretariat to the KPU seven days before the campaign starts.
The campaign schedule of ministers arranged by the state secretariat must also be conveyed to the KPU seven days before the campaign period begins.
If a minister becomes a party campaigner, the president will take over his/her duty and can appoint an interim minister.