Palace ready to welcome Susilo<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Presidential Palace received a major makeover on Monday ahead
\nof the inauguration of president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Susilo, unlike outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nplans to reside at the palace. Workers have renovated the
\npresident's office and a waiting room for journalists.<\/p>\n
"There are no problems. The security, protocol and household
\narrangements are all ready," outgoing State Secretary Bambang
\nKesowo said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The President's secretary, Kemal Munawar, said there were
\nongoing discussions with Susilo's team regarding preparations for
\nthe transition.<\/p>\n
"We are keeping in touch to welcome the new president," Kemal
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
According to the schedule for the renovation work, Susilo may
\nhave to stay in the Wisma Negara (State Guest House) for several
\ndays before moving in to Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
"This is just in case further adjustments are needed at
\nMerdeka Palace," a member of the presidential secretariat said.<\/p>\n
Merdeka Palace is the official residence of Indonesian
\npresidents. However, only founding president Sukarno and former
\npresident Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid resided at the palace
\nduring their terms.<\/p>\n
Susilo's new office in the palace is complete, and Megawati
\ntried it out when she chaired her last Cabinet meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
The office used to be a museum before being renovated for
\nMegawati. The renovation work finished last year, but Megawati
\nhad not used the office until Monday.<\/p>\n
During most of her three years in office, Megawati worked from
\nthe State Palace because she refused to use former president
\nSoeharto's office.<\/p>\n
A waiting room for the press, located about 300 meters from
\nthe president's office, is also ready.<\/p>\n
"Journalists will stay in the room and will only be allowed to
\nenter the president's office for press conferences," an official
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
"Since this is also the president's residence, we have to
\nlimit the movement of journalists and other guests for security
\nreasons."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/palace-ready-to-welcome-susilo-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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