Susilo's resignation remarks provoke debate

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya

Debates have emerged on whether a minister aspiring to be president should resign before his term, in the absence of a ruling on the matter. The discourse emerged following a statement from Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who said he would resign at the latest in April.

Susilo, who is nominated by the Democratic Party, is among several aspiring presidential candidates.

"It wouldn't be ethical for me, the President's subordinate, to compete with the president," he said on Thursday in Surabaya. He repeated his intention to resign on Friday.

Constitutional law expert Sri Soemantri hailed Susilo's statement.

"It shows he (Susilo) has political ethics. Others should follow him," he told The Jakarta Post.

Another expert, Harun Alrasyid, said given the absence of a ruling it would depend on individual presidential candidates in the Cabinet on whether they would resign.

The Law No.23/2003 on the direct presidential election says that the nomination of presidential candidates must be made within seven days after the announcement of the result of the general election. The Law No.12/2003 on general elections says the results must be made public no later than 30 days after the voting day of April 5 this year.

"Today I will focus on my job (as a minister), because the period of presidential nomination has not yet arrived," Susilo said Friday.

Separately, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who is also the chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), stated on Friday that he would not resign from the Cabinet ministry despite being nominated by his party as a presidential candidate.

"We'll see after the legislative election (in April). All figures (from) all parties will see whether they have strong support (from voters), so they can decide whether to stay in the cabinet," he said.

Indonesia will hold its first-ever direct presidential elections this year. The presidential election will be on July 5 and the run-off on Sept. 20.

The presidential election will follow the general election on April 5 to elect legislators, who are nominated by 24 political parties which will participate in this year's elections.

Yusril argued that it was possible for cabinet ministers to become presidential nominees as Indonesia deploys a government system which is run by a coalition cabinet under the president.

"They originate from different parties (from the president) so, actually, they have the right to do so," he said, referring to cabinet ministers who are also presidential aspirants.

He remarked that the debate on whether a cabinet minister should resign if he was nominated as a presidential hopeful had nothing to do with ethics.

"Some people use the ethics issue in this case for their political interests," he said.

"If pak Kwik (Kian Gie) or Laksamana Sukardi, who are from the same party (as the president), competed in the presidential elections that would be not ethical. But if the nominees come from other parties, it's just fine," Yusril said.

He was referring to two ministers who are also members of the Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) chaired by President Megawati.

Apart from Yusril, several cabinet ministers and the vice president are currently eying the presidency.

Vice president Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), has been nominated as the party's presidential candidate. Coordinating Minister of People' Welfare Jusuf Kalla has been named one of several presidential nominees from the Golkar Party.