Vice President's secretary appointed

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has appointed the chairman of the State Personnel Administrative Body, Prijono Tjiptoherijanto, as the Vice President's secretary, replacing Bambang Kesowo.

"I will install Prijono (as the secretary to the Vice President) this week," Minister/State Secretary Bambang Kesowo told reporters after meeting with Vice President Hamzah Haz on Tuesday.

He did not give a specific date.

Bambang said Prijono's appointment was based on Presidential Decree No. 70/M/2002 signed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on April 17.

Prijono, who according to Bambang is "very competent", will take over the tasks currently being handled by Laode Kamaluddin, a special assistant to the Vice President.--JP