Busy Idul Fitri for President, Vice President

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid and the first family will hold four open-house sessions at Merdeka Palace on the first day of the post-fasting month Idul Fitri holiday to receive well- wishers, including members of the public.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will receive Cabinet members, diplomats and top government officials at her official residence on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, on Saturday. She will hold an open house for members of the public on Sunday.

Accompanied by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Abdurrahman and Megawati will attend the takbiran prayer on the eve of Idul Fitri -- locally called Lebaran -- at Senayan Indoor Stadium in Central Jakarta.

According to the official time schedule issued by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday, after their Idul Fitri prayer at Istiqlal Grand Mosque, President Abdurrahman, First Lady Sinta Nuriyah and their four daughters will receive family friends and close relatives.

One hour is allocated for them to receive Cabinet members and ambassadors before they welcome government officials.

From 4 p.m., Merdeka Palace will be open for two hours to members of the public who want to greet the President.

"The first family will receive the well-wishers on Saturday, because the President plans to spend the second Idul Fitri day in Padang," an official said on Thursday.

The President is also scheduled to visit his two predecessors, Soeharto and B.J. Habibie. The meeting with the former remains tentative because Soeharto may spend the holiday at his mansion, Dalem Kalitan, in Surakarta, Central Java.

Megawati and her family will hold two open-house sessions on the first day of Idul Fitri to receive well-wishers.

At her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, Megawati will spend three hours on Sunday morning to meet government officials and the public.

In her capacity as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), she will greet party leaders and supporters in Kebagusan. (prb)