Tidbits about the new cabinet

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)