Gus Dur brushes off talk about his life
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid insisted on Friday he would ignore the rumors about his personal life and let people make their own judgments.
Without specifically mentioning reports about a past alleged extramarital affair with housewife Aryanti Sitepu, the President said there were various rumors circulating about him, including gossip that he had a mistress.
"Frankly speaking, I do not care about the curses and obscenities, including the slander that I have a mistress, (am involved in) KKN (corruption, collusion and nepotism) and other things," Abdurrahman said during a public dialog after attending Friday prayers at Al Munawaroh Mosque, located near his private residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
Abdurrahman's remarks were in response to a question from a member of the audience, Bambang, who also cited president Sukarno's statement about three key elements necessary for the progress of the nation, including moral values.
Aryanti, 38, claimed in an interview with two weekly magazines, Gatra and Panji Masyarakat, that in 1995 she had an extramarital affair with Abdurrahman, who promised to marry her. The interview was published in this week's editions of the magazines.
Abdurrahman was the chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, for nearly 15 years until his election as the country's fourth president in October last year.
"I leave it to the public to decide. When my actions are connived by other people it means I am not guilty. But if the majority of society criticizes me, it means that I am wrong," the President remarked.
Megawati
Separately, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri left for Singapore on Friday for her third medical checkup this year at a private hospital.
Vice Presidential Secretary Bambang Kesowo described the visit as a private trip for regular health maintenance.
Ibu is very healthy, she does not have any specific complaints. However, doctors advised her to undergo regular checkups," Bambang told The Jakarta Post.
Megawati is being accompanied by her husband Taufik Kiemas during the three-day visit.
She departed aboard an F-28 Air Force plane, which she also often uses in her domestic tours.
A small group of officials from the Vice Presidential Office also accompanied her.
According to Bambang, due to the personal nature of her visit the Vice President is not scheduled to hold any official meetings.
Nevertheless, Bambang said, it was possible that Singapore's leaders might want to meet with her as she has close relations with them.
During her last visit to Singapore in June, Megawati met with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. She also visited the country in April.
The Vice President will arrive back in Jakarta on Sunday evening. On behalf of the President, the Vice President will swear in three new Indonesian ambassadors on Monday, including the new ambassador to Singapore, Johan Syahperi. (prb)