Indonesian president bans active ministers from activities related to election

In a bid to assure professionalism in running the country, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has banned active ministers from taking part in any political activities related to the July 9 presidential election.

The ban is aimed at assuring professionalism in serving the government, avoid conflict of interests that may undermine the president's administration.

Yudhoyono has said he would ask his ministers who are actively involved in any president candidate camp to resign. "I will tell my ministers, should they were hardly able to carry out their ministerial duties due to their active involvement in a president candidate camp, I would let them to resign," the president said in a national coordination meeting on the presidential election attended by the entire ministers and heads of regional administrations in Bogor, West Java province on Tuesday.

Previously the president approved resignation of several ministers who are involved in political activities related to the election, including trade minister Gita Wirjawan and coordinating minister for the economy Hatta Radjasa who was eventually picked as a vice president candidate in the upcoming election.

During his briefing, the president also ordered governors, mayors and regents to address interests of the central government rather than political parties they are affiliated with. Most of the officials in these levels are apparently staunch cadres of different political parties.

The president, however, said that they are allowed to take part in the campaign period during weekends. "They must prioritize their main duties to run administration in the regions."

Two candidates will contest in Indonesia's upcoming presidential election. They are Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto.

Joko Widodo, the Jakarta governor, is supported by the coalition of four political parties comprised of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, the Nation's Awakening Party, the People's Conscience Party and the National Democrat Party.

Prabowo Subianto, a former general, is supported by the coalition of six political parties comprised of the Great Indonesia Movement Party, the Golkar party, the National Mandate Party, the United Development Party and the Moon and Crescent Party.

The month-long campaign period will begin on June 4.