Confusion in drug case confirms earlier rumor of Hamzah's wives Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As the nation was rocked the past few days by rumors that one of Vice President Hamzah Haz' children was busted by police in a drug-related case last Thursday, the controversy ironically confirmed an older rumor: he has three wives, at least.

1. NAM: 1 x 45 NAM can drive reform in the UN, say observers 2. KL: 1 x 42 War on Iraq, war against Muslims: Mahathir 3. BUSINESS: 2 x 32 Megawati calls for greater role for private sector in NAM 4. SINGAPORE: 2 x 24 President criticized for overnight stop in S'pore

N. Sumatra administration ready to fund `TVRI' Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin said on Saturday that his administration was ready to take over the financing of TVRI's Medan station to ensure that the station would still go on air. Nurdin said the North Sumatra government had no objection to providing financial assistance for TVRI Medan if the station was no longer receiving financial support from the state budget.

NAM can drive reform in the UN, say observers Kurniawan Hari and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Despite skepticism over its role in the modern world, observers agree that the Nonaligned Movement (NAM) plays an important role in articulating developing countries' demands for a fairer world order. Former foreign affairs minister Alwi Shihab said on Saturday that NAM would still play an important role in international diplomacy in the future.

Election campaign rules stir debate Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Now that legislators have permitted the participation of the heads of state in the election campaigns next year, questions have already surfaced on the extent of their involvement, without compromising public interests.

Surging Atwal with three-shot lead at halfway stage of Malaysian Open Agence France-Presse Kuala Lumpur India's Arjun Atwal ended his second round Saturday with a six- under-par 65 to open up a three-shot lead over South African Retief Goosen at the US$1.1 million Malaysian Open. Atwal, who was four-under after seven holes before a tropical thunderstorm brought a premature end to play Friday, toured his remaining 11 holes in two-under with birdies on 15 and 18 at the Mines Resort et Golf Club.