Political Party Officials in Cabinet Cannot be Ignored: Hasyim

Depok, W Java (Antara) - Former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Hasyim Muzadi has warned that the presence of political party officials appointed as ministers in president-elect Joko Widodo's cabinet cannot be ignored. "There is nothing wrong with political party officials appointed as ministers but the political parties should not parcel out the cabinet," he said here Sunday. Speaking to journalists after attending a conference at Al Hikam Islamic Boarding School here, he said ignoring the presence of political party officials in the cabinet would create problems for the government in dealing with parliament. For Hasyim Muzadi, it would not be a problem if the next cabinet structure was "big" as long as those appointed were professional and capable people. The Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, would not propose anyone for becoming Joko Widodo's ministers, said Hasyim Muzadi, staunch supporter of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla pair in the recent presidential election. Joko Widodo will officially be in power on October 20, 2014. (*) Reported by Feru Lantara