Several Ministers Take Leave to Campaign

Jakarta (Antara) - Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said, here on Monday, a number of cabinet ministers had applied for leave to participate in electoral campaigns ahead of the legislative elections scheduled to be held on April 9. "Three or four have submitted their applications, including the Minister of Transportation EE Mangindaan, the Chief Economic Minister Pak (mr) Hatta, and the Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Businesses Pak Syarief Hasan, as well as others," he said at the Presidential Palace compound. He noted that he would immediately process their applications. Campaigns will start on March 16 and will last until April 5. Regarding President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is the general chairman of the Democrat Party, he said he has not yet applied for leave. "He has not, until now. (I have seen) no plan from him," he said. He also stated that the President is allowed to take leave to participate in campaigns. "Of course he can, why not? Who says that the President is not allowed to campaign? Certainly he must also adhere to the rules if he wants to. He will not violate the rules," he said. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said he was just about to submit the application for leave. "We will submit it today," he added. He said the permit was needed immediately for assuring that he can campaign on the dates that were planned. "I do not know when it will be. We had better have the permit first. Whether it will later be used will depend on the situation," he said. (*) Reporting by Muhammad Arief Iskandar