Megawati to fire minister racing in presidential election

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri will fire the minister who races in the presidentialelection on July 5, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno ministersaid Tuesday.

"Ministers racing in the presidential-vice presidential election will be fired using the presidential decree," Hari Sabarno was quoted by state news agency Antara as saying.

Three of Megawati ministers will race in the presidential election but one of them has not tendered a resignation from his job yet.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Coordinating Minister of Political and Security Affairs, resigned ahead the legislative election on April 5 after involving in a row with the president.

Jusuf Kalla, former Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, resigned later after Yudhoyono chose him as a running mate in the presidential election.

Another Megawati minister, Agum Gumelar, is a vice presidentialcandidate, pairing with presidential candidate Hamzah Haz. Agum isstill doing his ministerial job now.

Hari added that ministers who will participate in the campaign for the next election have to take leave to avoid conflict of interest.

Ministers who will involve in their parties' campaign are StateMinister for Communication and Information Syamsul Mu'arif, State Minister for Women's Empowerment Affairs Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto, State Minister Research and Technology M. Hatta Rajasa and State Minister for Cooperatives and Small-Medium Enterprises Alimarwan Hanan.

Source: Xinhua