Latief-Desy rumor draws attention
By Budiman Moerdijat and Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): The talk of the town in many circles and tabloids these days is not about the presidential election but the reported proposal of Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief to starlet Desy Ratnasari.
Tabloids have been in a frenzy with news that the stylish minister has proposed to the family of the 24-year-old screen star from Sukabumi, West Java.
Latief, 57, has been single since he divorced his first wife, Nursiah, in 1992. His 25-year marriage bore him four children.
Latief founded ALatieF Corporation which owns Pasaraya department stores, shrimp pond projects in Ujungpandang and Sheraton Hotel in Timika, Irian Jaya. He was appointed to the cabinet in 1993.
While neither families have confirmed the proposal, the tabloids are buzzing with predictions of a marriage.
The issue took many by surprise as Desy was rumored to be dating a 27-year-old medical student.
Desy's career has been a rags to riches story. She grew up from humble beginnings in West Java to become a model and one of Indonesia's most celebrated actresses and singers.
Many leading personalities had responses ranging from disbelief to veneration when asked by The Jakarta Post about the possibility of the two high profile personalities getting together.
The general manager of Matra lifestyle magazine, Fikri Jufri, said a marriage between two people of such different backgrounds, in this case a high ranking government official and show business celebrity, is not uncommon.
"One example is former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating's marriage. He is married to a former stewardess of the Italy's flag carrier Alitalia," Fikri said referring to the Keating's marriage in 1975 when he was still a politician.
Fikri said the reports had sparked readers' imaginations.
"This has intensified people's thirst for the news," he said, adding in jest that "people could get jealous (of Latief marrying the beautiful actress)... including me!"
Former film actress Zoraya Perucha asked why people were making such a fuss over the matter.
"I think it is a common thing for two people from very different ages and very different positions to get married and build a family," she said.
Jajang C. Noer, who directed Desy in the telemovie Bukan Perempuan Biasa (Not an Ordinary Woman), doubted the reports.
"If Desy is really going to get married, she would have notified me. Up to now I have not been informed by Desy," Jajang said.
She said people who were getting married were usually excited but Desy seemed very distant about the whole affair.
"Therefore I do not believe the rumors," she said.
But Jajang said that if Desy got married it would be for the right reasons.
"I can assure you that if Desy marries somebody, her marriage will based on love. Desy has integrity and she will not marry for money or status," Jajang said, adding that Desy is already rich and famous.
Meanwhile, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana of the Indonesian Women's Association for Justice (APIK) said people should respect Latief's and Desy's privacy.
"Who said that a minister cannot fall in love with an actress?," she asked.
But to her the most basic riddle is why Desy has not confirmed or denied the reports.
"I'm suspicious that there's something wrong here, maybe this was orchestrated by Desy's family".
She said Desy should decide for herself whether she wants to marry Latief.
"Her family can give their blessing, but cannot decide for her," Nursyahbani said.
Officials at the Ministry of Manpower remain silent on the whole matter, saying they did not know anything about this much reported rumor. Latief has not been available to the press as he has been in United States for the past week.
If the match-up does becomes a reality, Latief would join former minister Sudomo and Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro among the few who have married while holding a ministerial post.
Sudomo married Fransiska Diah Widowati in 1990 while he was Minister of Manpower, and Wardiman married Atie Wagiarti Soekandar in 1993.