Matori's health improving

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.