The United States of Indonesia Cabinet () was established as a result of the formation of the United States of Indonesia following the transfer of sovereignty from the Dutch colonial power. It lasted less than a year before Indonesia became a unitary state.
Background President Sukarno, the president of the United States of Indonesia, appointed Mohammad Hatta, Ida Anak Agung Gde Agung, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX and Sultan Hamid II to choose the cabinet of the new country. Two days later, on 20 December 1949, the cabinet was sworn in, and a week later formally accepted the sovereignty of the nation from the Dutch.Feith (2007) p46
Composition
Only five cabinet members came from the outside the federal state of the Republic of Indonesia. Hatta worked hard to ensure that ministers were appointed based on competence, rather than party affiliation, and four of the ministers from the Republic of Indonesia did not belong to any party. In practice, Hatta had a very dominant position in the cabinet, due to his close relationship with Sukarno, his success at the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference and his role during key events during the War of Independence.Feith (2007) pp 47-52
Portfolio Holder Party Origin Prime Minister Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta Non-party Republic of Indonesia Departmental Ministers Home Affairs Ida Anak Agung Gde Agung Non-party East Indonesia Foreign Affairs Mohammad Hatta Non-party Republic of Indonesia Defense Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX Non-party Republic of Indonesia Justice Soepomo Non-party Republic of Indonesia Finance Sjafruddin Prawiranegara Masyumi Republic of Indonesia Education and Culture Abu Hanifah Masyumi Republic of Indonesia Health Johannes Leimena Parkindo Republic of Indonesia Social Affairs Moh. Kosasih Purwanegara Non-partyPasundan Information Arnold Mononutu Indonesian National Party (PNI) East indonesia Transportation, Power, and Public Works Herling Laoh PNI Republic of Indonesia Welfare Djuanda Non-party Republic of Indonesia Labor Wilopo PNI Republic of Indonesia Religious Affairs Wahid Hasyim Masyumi Republic of Indonesia State Ministers State Minister Sultan Hamid II Non-party West Kalimantan State Minister Mohamad Roem Masyumi Republic of Indonesia State Minister Soeparno Honggopati Tjitrohoepojo Non-party Madoera
Changes On 19 January 1950, State Minister Moh. Roem was appointed to the RUSI High Commission in The Hague and resigned from the cabinet. Following a report from the attorney general, State Minister Sultan Hamid II was dismissed on 5 April 1950 for involvement in the rebellion led by Raymond Westerling. Neither of these state ministers were replaced.Simanjuntak (2003) p94Feith (2007) p47
The end of the cabinet On 15 August 1950, the United States of Indonesia ceased to exist and was replaced by the unitary state of Indonesia. On the same day, Prime Minister Hatta returned his mandate to President Sukarno. The Republic of the United States of Indonesia Cabinet was officially dissolved but continued as the cabinet of the Republic of Indonesia until a new cabinet could be formed.Simanjuntak (2003) p102
References Feith, Herbert (2007) The Decline of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia Equinox Publishing (Asia) Pte Ltd, Kahin, George McTurnan (1952) Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia Cornell University Press, Ricklefs (1982), A History of Modern Indonesia, Macmillan Southeast Asian reprint,
Notes