Latief-Desy rumor draws attention

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.