Dahlan Says He Will not Follow Gita

Jakarta, Feb 4 (Antara) - State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan will not follow the Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan's step to resign from his ministerial post in order to focus on the Democratic Party (PD)'s presidential candidate convention. "There are steps taken by Gita, which I can follow, but there are also others that I will not follow. But, I have also taken steps, which Gita can or cannot follow," Minister Dahlan stated here on Tuesday. According to Dahlan, people in life always have their personal choices. Dahlan and Gita are among the 11 participants in the presidential candidate convention held to select a presidential candidate for the ruling PD in the face of the presidential race next July. Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan has previously tendered his resignation from the ministerial position, effective February 1, 2014. He resigned to concentrate on the PD's presidential candidate convention. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received his resignation letter and accepted it. Dahlan emphasized that he will not resign from his ministerial post until he was named the presidential candidate by the PD. "I have not thought of resigning because I have not yet been selected as PD's presidential candidate. I am not yet a candidate and there is no guarantee that I will be selected to become PD's presidential candidate," he noted. He also claimed that his decision to not tender his resignation will not create any conflict of interest. "There is no conflict of interest," he argued. Dahlan, who has been the state enterprise minister since October 17, 2011, added that he always had an optimistic outlook while handling problems. "I have always been optimistic since I was born. I just follow it," he remarked. (*)