Doctor to examine candidates' health
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding that will allow the IDI to examine presidential and vice presidential candidates.
IDI chairman Farid Anfasa Moeloek said the candidates had to pass both mental and physical examinations to qualify for the election, scheduled for July 5.
Mental disorders like schizophrenia, acute neurosis and minimum cognitive impairment will dash a candidate's hope of running for president.
The candidates will also be checked for physical problems such as heart and vessel disorders with a high risk of mortality, respiratory problems with a restriction of more than 50 percent, specific far distance vision restrictions, double vision, deafness and acute voice problems, acute liver disease, urogenital problems with acute hemodialysis, musculoskeletal problems and cancer.
"Candidates who test positive for one of the health problems will be declared unable to shoulder the presidential duties," Farid said.
But he added that the IDI would adopt minimum health requirements.
"We are not setting the high standards usually imposed on military soldiers," he said.
He said the results of the examinations would be submitted to the KPU for consideration.
Farid said the medical team would consist of reputable doctors with a minimum experience of 15 years.
"They will come from prestigious universities in the country, ranging from the University of Indonesia in Jakarta to Hasanuddin University in Makassar," he said.
Among the possible presidential candidates who may have problems passing the examination is National Awakening Party (PKB) chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who has severe vision problems.
KPU member Anas Urbaningrum, who chaired the presidential candidates registration team, said the medical team would examine the candidates in two phases. The first phase will take place from April 26 and April 29, and the second between May 10 and May 13.
"Therefore, if a vice presidential candidate, for example, fails to pass the first test, the presidential candidate can select a new vice presidential candidate to undergo the second test," he said.
In response to the health requirements set by the KPU, Gus Dur said the commission was attempting to prevent him from contesting the presidential election.
"I think the KPU has bad intentions. The Constitution does not discriminate against presidential candidates based on their ability to see. I will recover within a few weeks to come through in a certain manner known only to me," said Gus Dur, who served as the country's fourth president between 1999 and 2001.