NEXT CABINET NEEDS PROFESSIONALS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - The need to form a small cabinet, embrace a big number of political parties and accommodate professionals may be a difficult issue for President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before he announces his cabinet lineup in October.

        "The president-elect needs to be cautious in making his choice for his cabinet lineup because basically naming a minister could reflect whether or not he takes side with the people," Ruslan Ismail Mage, a political observer of the Indonesian Political Investment Study Center, said.

        He however suggested that Yudhoyono should not hesitate in naming ministers of his choice for his next cabinet lineup. "The president should not hesitate to select his aides," he said.

        Ruslan Ismail Mage, who is the author of the book 'Industri Politik' (Political Industry), said that if the president took side with the people he would name professionals to reinforce the economic team of his cabinet. Professionals in this sense must have two abilities namely the abilities to formulate effective policies and to prevent misuse of state money.

        The president should not be deceived by the industrial-type concept of professionalism because professional in politics means that the ministers should master their respective fields and be able to protect all economic resources so that they would not be annexed by foreigners.

        Therefore, Mage suggested that political party cadres should be given ministerial portfolios outside the economic team.

        The same voice was also raised by Sociologist Prof Dr Badaruddin of the North Sumatra University (USU). He said that Yudhoyono's next cabinet ministers should be truly professionals so that they would be able to carry out their tasks based on the people's aspirations.

        "Prospective ministers must be people who have high dedication and are free from corruption," Badaruddin said in response to new faces who were likely to be given a ministerial post.

        The USU governor said that naming qualified ministers who had greatest responsibility would help the president to accomplish well all programs that had been made. They can even continue programs made during the term of the 2004-2009 cabinet ministers. The people wanted ministers who were able to continue Yudhoyono's program in his second term.

        "The ministers should also sign a political contract with the president. If they fail in carrying out their tasks, they should be prepared to resign and be replaced," he said.

        He said that actually, it was up to President Yudhoyono whether to name ministers from professional, political party, or from academician circles but they should master their respective fields. In this case, the president should not make a wrong choice.

        "If he makes a wrong choice, he will be disadvantaged. So, he should select those who are experts in their respective fields. He should not consider other factors such as political interest," he said.

        Prof Dr Tonny Pariela of the Pattimura University of Ambon in Maluku concurred with Badaruddin.

        He said that the next cabinet could well be filled in with political party cadres as long as they were professional in their respective fields. "There will be no problem if the president picks up political party cadres to fill his cabinet ministerial portfolios, as long as they are professionals in their fields," he said.

        However, Tonny also suggested that the president should also pay attention to pluralism issue in naming his ministers. "If the president uses the professionalism and pluralism approaches in appointing his ministers, his next cabinet will certainly perform better than the previous one," he said.

        Tonny, who is a lecturer at Pattimura University's school for social and political affairs said the government ahead would face an increased complexity of development and social services so that it would need professional figures to manage governmental departments.

        "Therefore, the next cabinet should not reflect the interest of political parties only but also pluralism with professional figures who could support President Yudhoyono in realizing his promises during the campaign," Tonny said.

        In the meantime, House member-elect Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not stick to the choice of the need for professionals.

        "The ministerial post is a political position. So, Yudhoyono should not merely consider the aspect of professionalism," Soesatyo said. The important thing is that a minister should be able to formulate and take a decision, or a policy with its political dimension and interest.

        "The qualification of such a minister is badly needed if we look at the present problem that is being faced by the Indonesian people," he said.

        He said that in the coming five years, the government needed to take a number of political measures to serve, protect and safeguard the people's interest.

        "In taking a political decision, the government should include its political wisdom. Professionals would always think about profit or losses," Soesatyo said.

        A professional, he said, only think of how to gain a profit and avoid potentials of losses. He cited as an example a decision on fuel oil subsidy or import duty borne by the government and on the small-holder's credit scheme (KUR). Direct cash assistance (BLT) or fuel oil subsidy is a political decision.

        "A decision of this kind is typically not of a professional one," he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/15:03/A/O001)

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 08-09-2009 15:08:13