Doctor to examine candidates' health

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.