IPNU to discuss future leaders
JAKARTA: The Association of Nahdlatul Ulama Youths (IPNU) is expected to have a national congress on June 19 in which it will invite political leaders to present their opinion on the future national leadership.
Speaking to the press after meeting House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung on Monday, IPNU chairman Abdullah Azwar Anas said that representatives from political parties -- including Pramono Anung of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Budi Harsono of the Golkar Party, Endin A.J. Soefihara of the United Development Party (PPP) and Hatta Radjasa of the National Mandate Party (PAN) -- would speak at the congress.
Vice President Hamzah Haz is slated to open the congress, which will take place at the Sukolilo haj dormitory in Surabaya.
Abdullah Azwar said that the meeting of political leaders would be used as a forum to share thoughts from different political parties. -- JP
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RI free of SARS: WHO
JAKARTA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Indonesia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) members free of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to a senior government official.
Umar Fahmi Achmadi, director general for communicable diseases eradication at the Ministry of Health, said on Monday that WHO's decision to remove ASEAN from the SARS list took effect on June 12.
"Since June 11, there were no SARS victims in ASEAN," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
There was therefore no need to be afraid of traveling to ASEAN countries any longer, he said. People have avoided visiting the region since the SARS outbreak in March.
ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippine, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. -- Antara
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Pensioners to get back pay
JAKARTA: At least 2.2 million retirees from the civil service, the Indonesia Military (TNI) and the National Police will receive back pay on their pensions soon, after President Megawati Soekarnoputri gives her approval.
Maurin Sitorus, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, said in a statement on Monday that the back pay was calculated from the difference between the former basic salary and the new one.
The government has sufficient funds at its disposal through state-owned PT Taspen and Asabri.
"This explanation is to reassure pensioners, who have yet to receive back pay. The government paid the difference to working civil servants, military and police officers two months ago," Maurin said.
The government increased the basic salary for civil servants, military and police officers as well as pensioners early this year. -- JP