Matori's health improving
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The health of defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil is slowly improving at Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, a government official has said.
"Pak Matori was moved from the intensive care unit yesterday (Wednesday), indicating that his state of health has improved," defense ministry's Secretary-general Rear Marshal Suprihadi told House of Representatives Commission I for defense on Thursday.
Matori suffered a stroke on Aug. 27 and was rushed to the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta. He was later airlifted to Singapore after his condition worsened.
According to Suprihadi, Matori suffered a stroke, with additional complications caused by a lung disorder, diabetes and sinusitis.
He said doctors at the Mt Elizabeth Hospital had not performed any surgery on Matori as they were endeavoring to restore Matori to health without it.
Suprihadi said the government was still discussing whether or not to assign another official to handle the duties of defense minister.
In the hearing chaired by legislator Franky W. Kayhatu of the Military/Police faction, Suprihadi said for the time being the duties would be carried out by the ministry's directors general.
He also said that Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would discuss with President Megawati Soekarnoputri whether or not there was a need to assign someone to take over the ministerial post.
"He (Susilo) will ask the President if an interim defense minister should be appointed or not," Suprihadi said.
Asked if he was ready to take over the ministerial post himself, Suprihadi replied that such a thought had never crossed his mind.
Matori was chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which split into two in 2001 following the ouster of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, was PKB's founder.
Soon after his ouster, Gus Dur fired Matori and appointed newcomer Alwi Shihab to chair the country's fourth-largest party.
Matori's insistence on declaring himself the legitimate PKB chairman prompted a legal battle between the two camps.
However, after a series of court actions, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights decided in favor of Alwi.