ITB alumni to elect chairman

JAKARTA (JP): The 32,000-strong alumni association of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) begins its fifth congress today to elect a new chairman.

In a statement issued here yesterday, the alumni association said the leading candidates for the seat include businessman Fadel Muhammad, head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology Zoehal, head of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences Cahyono and former head of the state-owned telephone company Cacuk Sudaryanto.

The election of the new chairman for the 1997/2001 term will be held at the end of the congress on Friday in Bandung, West Java.

President Soeharto is scheduled to open the congress at the State Palace here today.

ITB is one of the country's most prestigious schools with a long list of celebrated alumnis who have either left their mark on Indonesian history or have distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

They include Indonesia's first president Soekarno, head of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aburizal Bakrie, business tycoon Ciputra along with no less than eight members of the current cabinet, among them State Minister of National Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas.

The congress, held under the theme Indonesia Rises, ITB is Ready, will be attended by 350 representatives from various ITB alumni branches across the country.

A slew of activities, including alumni meetings and seminars, will also be held during the week in Bandung. (mds)