HMI to hold congress in Semarang

SEMARANG: The Association of Islamic Students (HMI) will hold its 14th congress between Sept. 7 and Sept. 12 here, aimed at reviewing its statute and electing its chairman for the 2003-2005 period.

"We will also discuss our agenda for the next two years," Akhmad Supari, who chairs the congress steering committee, said on Friday.

The congress will be attended by some 800 participants who represent HMI provincial chapters across the country and abroad as well as its alumni.

Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif is slated to deliver a speech during the closing of the five-day congress. -- JP

;JP;MUN; ANPAa..r.. Scene-akbar-candidate Akbar tells reasons on his nomination JP/4/SCENE

Convicted corrupter just wants to satisfy

JAKARTA: Golkar Party Chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Friday he changed his plan to stay away from the presidential race in order to satisfy his loyal supporters.

Speaking at a party function in the Banten regency of Serang, Akbar said he took part in the party's convention to select its presidential candidate as many of the party supporters encouraged him to do so.

He said the convention served as a "political lesson" for the nation which deserved wide acceptance as the country's method to select its leaders.

Akbar, who is the House of Representatives speaker, also said had the right to represent the party in the 2004 presidential election given the fact that he had been with Golkar for 30 years.

Because of his conviction on graft charges, Akbar had repeatedly said he would just focus on his job as Golkar chairman instead of running for president. -- Antara

;JP;MUN; ANPAa..r.. Scene-patients-abroad Indonesian patients prefer medication abroad JP/4/SCENE

RI patients prefer foreign hospitals

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Indonesians spend Rp 3.5 trillion (US$411 million) a year for medical attention in foreign countries due to a lack of trust in the medical establishment in Indonesia, an official said.

"This is a sad state of affairs, but we must admit that foreign hospitals offer better services and human resources," Karyadi, an official with the Ministry of Health, said during a visit here on Friday.

He said Indonesia does not have enough doctors to take care of the country's population of 220 million, meaning one doctor must serve 5,700 patients. In Malaysia, for example, the ratio is 1:700. The country also falls short of specialists, he added.

The Director General of Medical Services, Sri Astuti, said the government had attempted to improve services, so that less patients will choose foreign hospitals. -- Antara