Seventh Development Cabinet


The Seventh Development Cabinet was the Indonesian cabinet which served under President Suharto and Vice President B. J. Habibie from 16 March 1998 to 21 May 1998. The term of this cabinet was supposed to end in March 2003, but due to student demonstrations and mass riots in 1998 due to the economic crisis that hit Indonesia, which led to Soeharto's resignation from his position on 21 May 1998 and the appointment of Vice President B. J. Habibie as the new president, this cabinet became a resigned cabinet. As its replacement, the Indonesian government was continued by the Development Reform Cabinet.
The cabinet was formed in the midst of the Asian financial crisis and after Suharto was elected to a 7th term as president by the People's Consultative Assembly. It was a controversial cabinet where Suharto displayed his nepotism by appointing Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana as Minister of Social Affairs and gave Bob Hasan, a crony, the position of Minister of Industry and Trade. When things went out of control in May 1998, Suharto tried to reshuffle the cabinet, but the rejection of 14 ministers to be part of the reshuffled cabinet became one of the reasons why Suharto chose to resign from the presidency.

The four cabinet aims

Whilst announcing the cabinet, Suharto also announced its aims.
  • Development trilogy: Consisting of national stability, economic growth, and equity as the tried and tested basis of the policy of development.
  • Self-reliance: Letting the nation go from reliance on other entities to self-confidence in the nation's own abilities, and having the capability to face the unpredictableness of globalization.
  • National resilience: national resilience will grow out of self-reliance, togetherness, and familial spirit. This will consist of skill and strength of the Nation in facing challenges and threats.
  • Unity and oneness: The two elements will strengthen national resilience and will ensure the continuity of livelihood as a nation, state, and people with the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila as its basis.

Coordinating ministers

Departmental ministers

State ministers

  • State Minister/State Secretary: Saadilah Mursyid
  • State Minister of Research and Technology/Chairman of the Research and Implementation of Technology Board : Rahardi Ramelan
  • State Minister of Investment/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Body : Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo
  • State Minister of Stateowned Enterprises: Tanri Abeng
  • State Minister of Agrarian Affairs/Chairman of the National Land Body : Ary Mardjono
  • State Minister of Housing: Akbar Tanjung
  • State Minister of Environment/Chairman of the Relief Effort and Containment of Environmental Disasters : Juwono Sudarsono
  • State Minister of Foodstuffs, Horticulture, and Medicines: Haryanto Dhanutirto
  • State Minister of Youth and Sports: Agung Laksono
  • State Minister of Female Empowerment: Tutty Alawiyah

Officials with ministerial rank

Changes