PKB Opposed to Discourse Asking Ministers to Relinquish Parti Post

Jakarta (Antara) - The National Awakening Party (PKB) is opposed to a discourse calling for somebody who is appointed a minister to relinquish his/her post in political party. No rule in the constitution governed the post, PKB Deputy Secretary General Jazilul Fawaid said here on Sunday. "In principle, PKB sticks to the constitution. As long as there is no rule banning a minister from occupying a post in political party we will struggle to have our competent cadres (occupying the post of minister)," he said. As an organization in a democratic state, a political party is formed to gain power for the benefit of the people. Therefore, there is nothing wrong for party cadres to occupy important posts both in the government and parliament, he said. Ministerial-level posts such as leader, manager and director were all executors of an organization, he pointed out. He lashed out at fear that party cadres who occupied the posts of minister would not focus on serving the people. Having long experience in managing an organization, ministers who came from political parties were accustomed to dividing their time professionally, he said. (*) Reporting by Sigit Pinardi