Yusril bids early farewell

JAKARTA: Although the current Cabinet will be dissolved only after the next president takes office in October, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra has already bid farewell to his staff.

"I would like to say goodbye to all of you. This may be the last time I preside over a big ceremony, as my term as a minister will end on Oct. 30 this year," Yusril said in a ceremony marking the immigration office's anniversary here on Saturday.

He said he would not resign as a minister despite his plan to contest the presidential election, with the possibility of challenging his boss, incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Yusril chairs the Crescent Star Party (PBB), while Megawati is chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

No party has announced their presidential and vice presidential candidates, although the General Elections Commission has opened the registration of candidates for the landmark direct presidential election, scheduled for April 5.

"People must learn that if a minister becomes a presidential candidate, it does not mean that he or she is an enemy of the incumbent president. It's common that a supervisor later becomes a subordinate," Yusril said.

Besides Yusril, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla are also potential presidential candidates. -- JP