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oordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo were full of bonhommie as they described the cordial relations of the Cabinet’s economic ministers on Monday

In an interview with the The Jakarta Post at Hatta’s office at the Finance Ministry in Central Jakarta, Hatta and Agus were in agreement on what they called unjustified allegations of cracks in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s economic team.

During the interview, Hatta and Agus regularly exchanged compliments on the other’s solidity, agreeing that they had amiable relations and were working constructively on policy.

As reported by the Post on Monday, sources in the business and political communities have claimed there has been disharmony and a lack of coordination, particularly between Hatta and Agus.

Hatta said that if there were any dissenting opinions voiced by ministers on certain issues, it merely reflected flowing ideas that often resulted in productive solutions.

“My coordination function is proceeding very well. There’s no such thing as a lack of coordination. During discussions, we often do have debates. Tough ones. But as soon as we reach an agreement, then everything is considered settled,” he said.

Hatta cited as example of a recent success negotiating a solution to the labor strikes revolving around increasing regional minimum wages and deliberations on much-needed Land Acquisition Law.

“Those could not have been resolved without my coordination.”

Hatta said that people often misunderstood the scope of his authority, blaming him for a failure to coordinate if problems arose.

“A coordinating minister cannot take over the authority of a minister. Ministers have their own respective authorities over their portfolios and they are directly responsible to the President, who gives coordinating authority to coordinating ministers,” Hatta said.

Hatta also said he had never misused his authority as minister to benefit the National Mandate Party (PAN), which he leads.

“I never talk about politics in my office or in my daily life. I work completely professionally,” he said.

Agus praised Hatta’s persistence and professionalism, saying that Hatta has been an excellent coordinating minister and had never let personal political interests to determine the country’s economic policies.

“I’m surprised that Pak Hatta always makes proper written documentation of his work with ministers. This shows that Pak Hatta is doing his job at his best,” Agus said.

Agus said that disagreements among Cabinet’s economic team were “constructive” efforts by ministers whose only interest was to find the best solution for the country.

“I do not think that we have any differences with one another at all. People often receive our statements piecemeal and not in whole. If our complete context, then it is clear that economic ministers do not have differences nor disharmony,” Agus said.