East Java Muslim clerics meet Soeharto

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Adding fuel to rumors ahead of the April 5 elections, Muslim clerics from East Java met former president Soeharto at the later's residence on Monday.

Saying the meeting was merely a courtesy call, the 13 clerics were divided into two groups, each of which was granted a 10- minute meeting with the former strongman at his home on Jl. Cendana in upmarket Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Soeharto was accompanied by his eldest daughter, Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana.

"We were just returning the visit of Mbak Tutut to our boarding school. There was no political discussion -- only a courtesy visit," cleric Zamzami from Lirboyo Muslim boarding school, East Java, said after the meeting.

The meeting was said to have been requested by the clerics, following Tutut's visit to Lirboyo on Feb.19.

Tutut stole the limelight recently when she appeared in a political party function in Jakarta. R. Hartono, a retired army general and former aide of Soeharto, who established the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), has publicly courted Tutut as the party's presidential candidate.

Clerics have always been part of Indonesia's political game as a result of the influence they wield over a huge number of followers.

The clerics said that the visit was also aimed at ascertaining Soeharto's state of health, as he is said to have difficulty in understanding and using words, after suffering from repeated strokes.

Soeharto is slated to undergo another health examination to determine his ability to stand trial for corruption.

He was accused of enriching himself, his family and cronies during his 32-year authoritarian rule before he quit in May 1998 following massive student protests.

Several weeks ago, the former president received his old friend, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad. Soeharto appeared to be in good health at the time.

The clerics said that Soeharto mostly nodded at what they said to him.

A member of staff at the Cendana residence told The Jakarta Post that the clerics hoped to convey a clear message to the public concerning Soeharto's health.

"Hopefully, if the clerics say that the former president is sick, the public will believe them as it is a statement made by some of their religious leaders."