Jakarta – Indonesia's new President faced his first security scare from irate protesters yesterday after delivering a tough anti-corruption warning as his cabinet was sworn in.
The cabinet that was announced on Tuesday eliminated the information and social affairs ministries, sparking protests on Thursday and yesterday by civil servants fearful for their jobs.
As the new ministers gathered for their official group photograph in front of the presidential palace, hundreds of ministry employees gathered in a park across the street, shouting: "What will happen to our jobs?"
President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri got into a golf cart and headed to talk to the protesters. But the crowd suddenly surged forward, forcing the head of state to turn around.
"Demonstrations are nothing new for me," Mr Wahid said. "I wanted to go to speak to them. But my security men said it was unsafe."
In a nationally televised address, Mr Wahid – better known by his nickname Gus Dur – dismissed criticism of the make-up of his 32-member "national unity" cabinet and said it would serve until 2004. But he added that any minister suspected of taking bribes would be expected to resign.
The cabinet was installed at the start of what many hope will be a new era of democracy after decades of dictatorial rule, capped by two years of political instability, economic crisis and civil unrest.
Mr Wahid has promised his team will be free of the graft that was rampant under the authoritarian rule of Suharto and his successor, Bacharuddin Habibie.
He repeatedly stressed the need for clean government in a speech at the ornate Merdeka Palace. "I hope all of you can live simply, fairly and honestly and be able to perform your duties as expected by the people," Mr Wahid said. "If any among you are brought to court by the Attorney-General, then it is better for you to resign."
As part of their oaths of office, each minister pledged "not to receive any gifts from anybody who I know, or think, will have a hidden interest related to my duty and position".
Mr Wahid warned his new team they faced the tough job of maintaining national unity and fixing the economy. He said they also should push for greater democracy.
Among those sworn in was new armed forces commander Admiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto. Another, Minister of Mines and Energy and former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said the military would have to relinquish its dominant role in politics.
"The military has to revise its doctrine and mission, moving away from day-to-day politics and concentrating on reforms and security," said Mr Yudhoyono, whom analysts describe as one of the army's top reformists.