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Subject: [reformasitotal] BT exclusive: Sparks fly over Indonesian
Cabinet lineup
> Business Times [Singapore]
> 15 Aug 2000
>
> Exclusive
>
> Megawati toughens stand towards Gus Dur
>
> She is demanding a comeback of Wiranto, Kwik and Laksamana
>
> >From Yang Razali Kassim in Jakarta
>
> SUPPORTERS loyal to President Abdurrahman Wahid took to the streets yesterday
> in a sign of escalating tension, as the president and Vice-President Megawati
> Sukarnoputri squared up over the formation of the next Cabinet.
>
> The newly-empowered Ms Megawati took a tougher stance towards the president,
> and demanded control of five key ministerial positions straddling economics
> and finance as well as security.
>
> The shocker that galvanised the president was when Ms Megawati insisted on
> bringing back three figures -- General Wiranto, Kwik Kian Gie and Laksamana
> Sukardi -- to fill the posts.
>
> Ms Megawati wanted the post of Menko Ekuin -- coordinating minister for the
> economy, industry and finance -- to go back to Mr Kwik, who had just last
> week resigned in a huff ahead of the impending Cabinet reshuffle. She also
> wanted the finance portfolio to go to Mr Laksamana, who was Gus Dur's
> investment minister until he was sacked about a month ago on unproven
> allegations of corruption.
>
> Gen Wiranto would be slated for the post of coordinating minister for
> politics and security, which was also his previous position. In addition, Ms
> Megawati is insisting that the trade and industry portfolio should go to
> Arifin Panigoro, currently held by former ambassador to Singapore, Luhut
> Panjaitan.
>
> Mr Kwik, Mr Laksamana and Gen Wiranto all have one thing in common -- they
> were forced out by the president in the 10 months that he has been in power.
> All three have since become foes of the president. Mr Kwik, Mr Laksamana and
> Mr Arifin are also key leaders in Ms Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party
> of Struggle or PDIP.
>
> "Mega wants five posts -- finance, home affairs, trade and industry as well
> as the coordinating ministries of economy and finance and politics and
> security. The rest she will let go. It's clear that she wants control of
> finance and politics," a source with links to the president told BT.
>
> "The lady is getting very tough. She doesn't want to compromise," the source
> added.
>
> Her hardline stance has thrown a spanner in the works of the president's own
> choices for the top Cabinet positions. Ms Megawati had earlier shot down the
> president's plan to appoint a first minister to coordinate the Cabinet on his
> behalf, reserving that slot for Mines Minister and retired general Susilo
> Bambang Yudoyono.
>
> Since the MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) -- the highest policy-making
> body -- stripped him of some of his tasks as head of government, Gus Dur, as
> the president is more popularly known, has downgraded the proposed first
> minister role to that of coordinating minister, but still keeping it for Gen
> Susilo.
>
> But Ms Megawati remained opposed to the plan, seeing it as a move to check
> her growing role in government. Her push to get Gen Wiranto back into his old
> job is a major surprise, given the reformist clamour for a reduced presence
> of the military in government. But Ms Megawati has never been as zealous as
> Gus Dur in meeting such reformist demands.
>
> Gus Dur wants the Menko Ekuin position for Dorojatun Kunjoro-Jakti, a
> respected economics professors who is now Indonesia's ambassador to the
> United States.
>
> But Dr Dorojatun has turned down any post in the new Cabinet for as long as
> the president relied on Sofyan Wanandi, whom many believe was the cause of Mr
> Kwik's resignation last week, for economic advice. Dr Dorojatun's refusal to
> take up the post left by Mr Kwik has led to speculation that Gus Dur might
> make the unpopular move of handing it instead to Mr Wanandi.
>
> The president's plan for the finance portfolio is to pass it to PS Priyadi, a
> personal friend and businessman whom he had tried to install as head of a
> state-owned bank. But there has been talk that he could offer it to either
> Faisal Basri, or Sri Mulyani, both currently among his economic advisers.
>
> The clash between Gus Dur and Ms Megawati over the Cabinet line-up heightened
> over the weekend, according to another source. The president also had a tough
> time with MPR Speaker Amien Rais and parliamentary speaker Akbar Tanjung over
> the formation.
>
> Mr Akbar had told the president that he should not have one super
> coordinating minister, but two coordinating ministers -- one to handle
> economics and finance and the other, politics and security. Mr Akbar also
> sought the foreign affairs portfolio for Marzuki Darusman, currently the
> attorney-general. But Gus Dur wanted Alwi Shihab, a trusted ally, to stay in
> that position.
>
> Given the intense jostling over the Cabinet line-up, it is anybody's guess
> what its final shape and composition will be. Mr Akbar yesterday warned that
> a delay in its formation -- the line-up is scheduled to be announced on Aug
> 21 -- would create a dangerous leadership vacuum.
Jusfiq Hadjar gelar Sutan Maradjo Lelo
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