Good-bye the hardest word for Mega

Good-bye the hardest word for Mega

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Saying good-bye is never easy, but it is especially difficult for
President Megawati Soekarnoputri as she prepares to leave her
childhood home, the Presidential Palace.

As her tenure officially came to an end on Tuesday, Megawati
took care of some final business and bid farewell to her
household staff, who have served her over the past three and a
half years.

On her final day in office, Megawati signed a presidential
decree appointing Anwar Nasution as the State Audit Agency chief,
and signed the national social security system bill into law.

Over the last two weeks, Megawati has signed at least 18
presidential decrees and laws as she has attended to last-minute
business.

Before leaving the palace on Tuesday, Megawati shook hands and
said good-bye to staff from the protocol, press and household
offices.

"Ibu, may we see each other again," said one staff member from
the protocol office.

Then Megawati descended the front steps of the palace, climbed
into her official car and waved good-bye to staff and journalists
standing outside the palace.

Megawati, however, remained silent about reports she would not
attend the inauguration of president-elect Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, her former chief security minister.

The somber scene at the State Palace was in stark contrast
with the scene across the National Monument park at the vice
presidential office, where Vice President Hamzah Haz hosted
incoming vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla.

After meeting for about one hour, Hamzah introduced Kalla to
the staff at the office and gave him a tour.

Kalla, however, said he would work from president Soeharto's
Bina Graha office.

"I am grateful to the invitation from Pak Hamzah to visit the
office today," Kalla said.

When asked whether he and Megawati would attend Susilo's
inauguration, Hamzah said: "I am ready to go, but it depends on
whether Ibu (Megawati) will be there or not."

Kalla said he hoped that both Megawati and Hamzah would attend
the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.