Democrat Party Figure Supports Professionals in Cabinet

Jakarta (Antara) - A ruling Democrat Party figure has expressed support to President-elect Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) plans to appoint professionals in his future cabinet. Amir Syamsuddin, a member of the Ethics Council of the Democrat Party led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, stated here on Tuesday that the president-elect's decision to prioritize the appointment of professionals in his future cabinet was very good, adding that there are many professionals who are also active in politics. Many Democrat Party figures supported Jokowi's rival in the July 9 presidential election despite President Yudhoyono's confirmation of neutrality, but some others have also supported Jokowi. Last week, in its official social media Facebook account, the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla camp had called on the public to participate in proposing names to be selected for ministerial posts. The public has been asked to nominate potential candidates for a total of 34 ministerial openings. To ensure the smooth running of the government, Amir Syamsuddin, who is currently a minister of justice and human rights, suggested that Jokowi should consult with President Yudhoyono as he has a decade-worth of experience in running the government. "President Yudhoyono has led the government for the past ten years, and so, it will be good if he could share his experiences if needed," he asserted. With regard to his party, Amir declined to divulge details on whether the party will be part of the next government or lend outside support. "I cannot tell about the Democrat Party's position because the general chairman (President Yudhoyono) has so far said that he has to maintain the balance to prevent restlessness," Amir stated. (*)