Latief-Desy rumor draws attention<\/p>\n
By Budiman Moerdijat
\nand Ivy Susanti<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The talk of the town in many circles and
\ntabloids these days is not about the presidential election but
\nthe reported proposal of Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief to
\nstarlet Desy Ratnasari.<\/p>\n
Tabloids have been in a frenzy with news that the stylish
\nminister has proposed to the family of the 24-year-old screen
\nstar from Sukabumi, West Java.<\/p>\n
Latief, 57, has been single since he divorced his first wife,
\nNursiah, in 1992. His 25-year marriage bore him four children.<\/p>\n
Latief founded ALatieF Corporation which owns Pasaraya
\ndepartment stores, shrimp pond projects in Ujungpandang and
\nSheraton Hotel in Timika, Irian Jaya. He was appointed to the
\ncabinet in 1993.<\/p>\n
While neither families have confirmed the proposal, the
\ntabloids are buzzing with predictions of a marriage.<\/p>\n
The issue took many by surprise as Desy was rumored to be
\ndating a 27-year-old medical student.<\/p>\n
Desy's career has been a rags to riches story. She grew up
\nfrom humble beginnings in West Java to become a model and one of
\nIndonesia's most celebrated actresses and singers.<\/p>\n
Many leading personalities had responses ranging from
\ndisbelief to veneration when asked by The Jakarta Post about the
\npossibility of the two high profile personalities getting
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
The general manager of Matra lifestyle magazine, Fikri Jufri,
\nsaid a marriage between two people of such different backgrounds,
\nin this case a high ranking government official and show business
\ncelebrity, is not uncommon.<\/p>\n
\"One example is former Australian Prime Minister Paul
\nKeating's marriage. He is married to a former stewardess of the
\nItaly's flag carrier Alitalia,\" Fikri said referring to the
\nKeating's marriage in 1975 when he was still a politician.<\/p>\n
Fikri said the reports had sparked readers' imaginations.<\/p>\n
\"This has intensified people's thirst for the news,\" he said,
\nadding in jest that \"people could get jealous (of Latief marrying
\nthe beautiful actress)... including me!\"<\/p>\n
Former film actress Zoraya Perucha asked why people were
\nmaking such a fuss over the matter.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is a common thing for two people from very
\ndifferent ages and very different positions to get married and
\nbuild a family,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Jajang C. Noer, who directed Desy in the telemovie Bukan
\nPerempuan Biasa (Not an Ordinary Woman), doubted the reports.<\/p>\n
\"If Desy is really going to get married, she would have
\nnotified me. Up to now I have not been informed by Desy,\" Jajang
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said people who were getting married were usually excited
\nbut Desy seemed very distant about the whole affair.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore I do not believe the rumors,\" she said.<\/p>\n
But Jajang said that if Desy got married it would be for the
\nright reasons.<\/p>\n
\"I can assure you that if Desy marries somebody, her marriage
\nwill based on love. Desy has integrity and she will not marry for
\nmoney or status,\" Jajang said, adding that Desy is already rich
\nand famous.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana of the Indonesian Women's
\nAssociation for Justice (APIK) said people should respect
\nLatief's and Desy's privacy.<\/p>\n
\"Who said that a minister cannot fall in love with an
\nactress?,\" she asked.<\/p>\n
But to her the most basic riddle is why Desy has not confirmed
\nor denied the reports.<\/p>\n
\"I'm suspicious that there's something wrong here, maybe this
\nwas orchestrated by Desy's family\".<\/p>\n
She said Desy should decide for herself whether she wants to
\nmarry Latief.<\/p>\n
\"Her family can give their blessing, but cannot decide for
\nher,\" Nursyahbani said.<\/p>\n
Officials at the Ministry of Manpower remain silent on the
\nwhole matter, saying they did not know anything about this much
\nreported rumor. Latief has not been available to the press as he
\nhas been in United States for the past week.<\/p>\n
If the match-up does becomes a reality, Latief would join
\nformer minister Sudomo and Minister of Education and Culture
\nWardiman Djojonegoro among the few who have married while holding
\na ministerial post.<\/p>\n
Sudomo married Fransiska Diah Widowati in 1990 while he was
\nMinister of Manpower, and Wardiman married Atie Wagiarti
\nSoekandar in 1993.<\/p>",
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