House speaker downplays need to check Abdurrahman's health

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)