Tidbits about the new cabinet
JAKARTA (JP): The following are tidbits about the new cabinet:
* Family ties: Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, the new social services minister, is Soeharto's eldest daughter. Justika S. Baharsjah, the new agriculture minister, is the wife of the previous agriculture minister Sjarifuddin Baharsjah.
* Longest serving: Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, both coordinating ministers, are serving their fourth successive cabinet terms. Third-timers are Ali Alatas, all in the foreign affairs portfolio, and Akbar Tandjung, now minister of people's housing and settlement. Second-timers are Feisal Tanjung, Haryono Suyono, R. Hartono, Abdul Latief, Subiyakto Tjakrawedaya, Saadilah Mursyid, Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo and Haryanto Dhanutirto.
* Gender bias: Three women were appointed to the cabinet, an improvement over the previous cabinet, which had only two women. Besides Justika, the other two women ministers are Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and Tutty Alawiah.
* Military: Six cabinet members have military backgrounds, including two active: They are Gen. (ret.) Feisal Tanjung, Gen. (ret.) R. Hartono, Air Vice Marshal (ret.) Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Gen. Wiranto, Lt. Gen. A.M. Hendro Priyono, and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Ary Mardjono.
* Business: There are five ministers with business backgrounds. Abdul Latief (founder of the Sarinah Jaya department store chain), Tanri Abeng (president of Bakrie Group and once dubbed Indonesia's highest paid professional manager), Mohamad "Bob" Hasan (Nusamba Group), Agung Laksono (PT Media Target Prestasi), and Siti Hardijanti Rukmana (Citra Lamtoro Gung).
* Politicians: Several ministers were politicians who had served in the central executive board of Golkar. They include Ary Mardjono (Golkar secretary-general), Theo Sambuaga (deputy secretary), Siti Hardijanti (deputy chair), Agung Laksono (deputy chair). Akbar Tandjung began his public career in Golkar.
* Civil Servants: Some ministers were career civil servants and most now head the department they had served. They include Ali Alatas (foreign affairs), Fuad Bawazier (finance), Giri Suseno Hadihardjono (transportation), Sumahadi (forestry and plantation), Rahmadi Bambang Sumadhijo (public works), Rahardi Ramelan (Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology), Soedjono Chanafiah Atmonegoro (Attorney General Office).
* Scholars: Virtually every member has an academic title. Ten have professorships: Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Haryono Suyono, Muladi, Alwi Dahlan, Justika Baharsjah, Wiranto Arismunandar, Farid Antara Moeloek, Quraish Shihab, Rahardi Ramelan and Juwono Sudarsono. Four have doctorate degrees: Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Fuad Bawazier, Haryanto Dhanutirto and Sjahril Sabirin. Three are MBA holders: Sumahadi, Hendro Prijono and Tanri Abeng.
The Bandung Institute of Technology boasts the largest number of ministers with nine alumni (Ginandjar, Hartarto, Sanyoto, Kuntoro, Rahmadi, Giri, Wiranto, Rahardi, Haryanto), followed by the University of Indonesia with six (Alatas, Alwi Dahlan, Theo Sambuaga, Farid Moeloek, Akbar Tandjung, Juwono Sudarsono). Gadjah Mada University has three: Sjahril Sabirin, Fuad Bawazier and Sumahadi.
* Oldest and youngest. Mohamad Hasan, born March 24, 1931, is the oldest member of the cabinet after President Soeharto. Fuad Bawazier (Aug. 22, 1949) is the youngest member, beating the state minister of youth and sport affairs Agung Laksono who was born March 23, 1949.
Speaking of birthdays, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto celebrated his 51st birthday yesterday when his appointment was announced. (prb)