'A good heart' diagnosis for Abdurrahman

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid was told he had a good heart after undergoing a six-hour medical checkup at Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital in West Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists after his arrival at his official residence in Merdeka Palace, the President said the medical checkup had been scheduled since last month and he quoted doctors as telling him the condition of his heart was excellent.

He joked that doctors had given him permission to continue his hobby of eating delicious food.

"I was told that everything is fine," Abdurrahman, who is also known as Gus Dur, said.

Security officials initially asked journalists not to ask any questions to the President, saying he was too exhausted after the examination.

But after getting out of his car at Merdeka Palace, Abdurrahman turned back to journalists after First Lady Sinta Nuriyah and eldest daughter Alisa Quotrunnada Munawaroh told him that they were waiting for him.

"There is no problem. It was only a checkup. My heart exam had been scheduled for awhile. I was told it would be held at Harapan Kita today. So I just went there," Abdurrahman said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak, who is also a doctor, said results of the checkup showed Abdurrahman was healthy and there was no need to worry.

Asikin Hanafiah, who led the team of doctors during the checkup, said the health examination checked the condition of the President's heart, blood and brain.

"He only underwent a checkup, because as a President he must meet basic health standards," Asikin told journalists at the hospital.

The checkup came after a mild public scare on Feb. 25 when Abdurrahman was suddenly told by doctors to rest. The President was diagnosed as suffering from influenza at the time.

Since then he has resumed his activities without any signs of any real medical handicap.

Concerns of Abdurrahman's health remain due to the fact that he was hospitalized for two months after a stroke in January 1998. He then underwent brain surgery at state Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. He was also treated for hypertension in July 1997. He also has diabetes.

But friends close to him have said that since becoming President his past medical condition had not shown any signs of a relapse.

As if to prove that he is in tiptop shape, Abdurrahman went after the examination to Serpong, West Java, to give his condolences to his close friend Yusuf Faisal, whose mother recently died.

He will resume on Wednesday his daily activities, which include a planned visit to former president Soeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta. (prb)