Allies angry at Wahid for sacking Ministers

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, APRIL 25. The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, today confirmed that he had dismissed two key Ministers in charge of economic portfolios. One of the Ministers had said last night that the two were asked by the President to tender their resignations from the Cabinet.

Speaking to a television network in Jakarta, Mr. Wahid said he had exercised his presidential ``prerogative''. The two - Mr. Laksmana Sukardi of the Vice-President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Mr. Yusuf Kalla of the Golkar - had not been acting in concert with their Senior Ministers in charge of the Economy, Finance and Industry portfolios - Mr. Kwik Kian Gie and Mr. Bambang Sudibyo.

However, as the President was believed to be cross with all the Economics Ministers for their perceived inability to measure up to the stringent requirements being laid down by the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Kwik, who also belongs to Ms. Megawati's party, said he would not resign at this stage. But he left the question open for the future.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Wahid, who was until now riding the political waves in the face of a series of controversies and crises, today found himself facing a concerted outcry by several leading political parties over his style of functioning and the substance of his governance-agenda. The anger was sparked by the dismissal of Ministers.

Although Mr. Wahid's own position in the system of executive presidency is not linked to the coalition Government, the protests against his actions can have consequences to his status in the democratic renaissance in Indonesia.

Ms. Megawati's party today took the line that there was no reason for the dismissal of its highly regarded representative, Mr. Laksmana, from the Cabinet. The chief of the party's wing in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimyati Hartono, said a ``clarification'' would be sought from the President.

Mr. Akbar Tandjung, the Chairman of the Golkar Party which had held the presidency for long until Mr. Wahid's election to that post last year, today threatened that Ministers belonging to his outfit could be withdrawn en bloc in protest against the sacking of Mr. Yusuf Kalla.

Asking the President to tender ``a transparent explanation on the real reason'' for the dismissal of the two Ministers, the Golkar Chairman said that the stated objective of enhancing Cabinet harmony through the dismissals was not credible. The functioning of the Cabinet would depend on the President's own leadership, Mr. Akbar argued.

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