House speaker downplays need to check Abdurrahman's health

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has objected to proposals to establish an independent team of doctors to examine President Abdurrahman Wahid's mental and physical state of health.

Akbar, who is also Golkar chairman, said he did not see a need as the President has a complete team of physicians to monitor his health.

"Instead the team could probably just release the medical records of the President to the public," Akbar remarked.

Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono, recently sparked controversy when he proposed Abdurrahman be examined by an independent medical team.

The proposal gained momentum when the People's Consultative Assembly speaker threw his weight behind it, fearing that the President's recent controversial remarks may be related to his physical condition.

Abdurrahman, 59, underwent brain surgery after suffering a second stroke in 1998. His eyesight has also worsened in the past few years and he is now practically blind.

Several legislators, including the National Awakening Party (PKB), have questioned Amien's motive in supporting the special medical test, particularly since he did not make it an issue when he supported Abdurrahman's candidacy in October.

A clean bill of health from a state-appointed doctors team is required by an Assembly decree for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

But such a requirement was not raised as an issue during the past presidential election.

Akbar said he had no doubts over Abdurrahman's health.

He said based on his meeting with the President on June 6, Abdurrahman seemed healthy enough.

"The President ate (breakfast) more than me," Akbar said.

Abdurrahman, who has undergone health checkups in the United States, Japan and China, appointed his younger brother, Umar Wahid, as head of the presidential doctors team.

Umar is a pulmonary specialist, and currently works as head of state-owned Pasar Rebo Hospital in East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, House deputy speaker Tosari Wijaya from the United Development Party (PPP) viewed the call to verify Abdurrahman's health as an acceptable proposal.

Tosari brushed aside allegations that the move was merely a pretext to replace the President during the next Assembly session in August.

"It's just a discourse. We should not see it as an attempt to topple Gus Dur," Tosari said, referring to the President's popular name.

Noer Iskandar al-Barsany, chairman of Central Java's PKB, could not hide his ire with the call.

He chided those who made the proposal and said they themselves should not only undergo a physical checkup but also a psychological test.

"It's not just Gus Dur who needs a health examination, but also all the senior officials in this country to make sure that all our leaders are healthy enough to rule this country," he said in Semarang. (jun/45/prb)