House members want vice minister part of Cabinet

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 03/26/2008 1:15 AM  |  Headlines

Lawmakers on Tuesday criticized the government's decision to consider a vice foreign minister as merely an echelon I job, instead of a new Cabinet post.

While most legislators welcomed the creation of the new post, they expressed doubt the official appointed to the job could effectively substitute for the foreign minister if he or she was not part of the Cabinet.

Theo L. Sambuaga, who chairs the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense, security and foreign affairs, said the new post should be a Cabinet post so the official in charge would hold full authority to make decisions on behalf of the foreign minister.

"I even want him or her called a junior minister or state minister," said the senior Golkar Party politician.

Theo, however, warned the government to consult the House should it want to create a new ministerial post.

Criticism also came from lawmaker Yusron Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

While acknowledging that Indonesia needed a vice foreign minister in the face of increasingly complex global diplomacy and Indonesia's role in international forums, he said the post should not be occupied by a career diplomat equal to an echelon I official.

"Its presence would be meaningless as we just see him or her as an ordinary official without much authority. I have an impression that the government is also not sure about this issue," said Yusron

Lawmaker Sidarto Danusubroto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also lamented the creation of a "useless post", while saying existing echelon I officials, such as secretaries-general, directors general and inspectors general, were not effectively utilized.

"We don't need another echelon I official as the existing officials are adequate to cover the workload. An additional post means inefficiency. Why do we need another echelon I official?" he said.

Theo, Yusron and Sidarto agreed the new vice minister could not replace the foreign minister in dealing with international issues considered sensitive by domestic constituents when the foreign minister was abroad.

"We don't accept him or her as a substitute for the foreign minister at our regular hearings as he or she is just an echelon I official.

"The hearings are actually a meeting between the President and lawmakers. And only the minister can represent the President," Theo said.

Lawmaker Harjanto Tohari, also from Golkar, said the government was wasting resources by appointing an echelon I vice minister.

"What is the use of the vice minister if he or she can't represent the minister," he said.

Lawmakers have complained that due to frequent trips abroad, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda could not attend this month's hearing with the House.

Hassan reiterated Monday the vice minister post would be filled by the best official from his own office, but declined to provide names.

"We have nine echelon I officials at home, and several experienced ambassadors and permanent representatives abroad," he said after a meeting at the Presidential Office in Jakarta.

Senior diplomats such as Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Makarim Wibisono and Ambassador to Austria Triyono Wibowo, as well as young diplomats such as Ambassador to the United Nations Marty Natalegawa and presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal have been touted as likely candidates for the new position.

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