PRESIDENT WARNS DEPUTY MINISTERS AGAINST UNHEALTHY COMPETITION

Jakarta, Nov 11 (ANTARA) - Installing five deputy ministers at the State Palace here on Wednesday morning, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned them against unhealthy competition with the ministers at their respective departments.

Speaking at a ceremony to install the five deputy ministers, the president expressed hope that they would remain loyal to their department and work immediately after being installed.

"Starting tomorrow (Thursday), you have to start working to help the minister at the department where you are posted. To help the minister you should have the spirit of loyalty without competing with him or her," the president said.

The president at 9 on Wednesday morning installed the five deputy ministers at the State Palace to support his cabinet in the next five years.

Following the installation, the five deputy ministers took their oaths of office before the president to carry out their tasks and responsibilities to the best of their abilities.

According to President Yudhoyono, the five newly installed deputy ministers were career officials who have been working for a long time at various departments and therefore they would not need a lot of time for orientation because they were already familiar with "the rules of the game" and technocratic management at the departments they work for.

The five deputy ministers are Dr Bayu Krisnamurti as deputy minister of agriculture, Dr Hermanto Dardak as deputy minister of public works, Dr Bambang Susantono as deputy minister of transportation, Dr Alex Retra Ubun as deputy minister of industry and Dr Mahendra Siregar as deputy minister of trade.

Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said the five deputy ministers signed an integrity pact and a performance contract at President Yudhoyono's private home in Cikeas, Bogor, on Tuesday.

Besides installing the five deputy ministers, the president also installed the new chief of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Gita Wirjawan.

The president planned to install 11 other deputy ministers for the departments he considered having a heavy burden in the second United Indonesia Cabinet for 2009-2014 period.

The installation of the deputy ministers was based on article 10 in Law No.29/2009 on Ministries which permitted the president to appoint deputy ministers for certain departments.