Medical committee to vet presidential candidates

Medical committee to vet presidential candidates

Ni Luh Trisna Wahyuni and Muhammad Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU), in cooperation with the
Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), will establish a team of
physicians to conduct medical examinations on candidates running
in the upcoming presidential election.

KPU member Anas Urbaningrum said on Tuesday the team would
decide whether or not the candidates met the health requirements.
One of these requirements is that candidates be free of drugs.

"Candidates who are found to use narcotics will be
disqualified," Anas told reporters, adding that drug-free
candidates would be given the chance to replace running mates who
were found to use drugs.

He stressed, however, that the candidates would be
disqualified if they failed to select new running mates by the
"deadline", which he failed to specify.

The country will hold its first ever direct presidential
election on July 5, 2004, and a possible runoff involving the top
two contenders on Sept. 20.

Prior to that, Indonesia will hold its legislative elections
on April 5, which will be contested by 24 political parties.

Parties or coalitions of parties garnering 3 percent of the
seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) or 5 percent of the
total votes up for grab will be allowed to field candidates in
the presidential election.

Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairman of the
People's Consultative Assembly Amien Rais, House Speaker Akbar
Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Indonesian Military
(TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto, Sjahrir and Nahdlatul Ulama chairman
Hasyim Muzadi are just few names who have made public their
intention to run in the elections, either as presidential or vice
presidential candidates.

The IDI's Medical Ethics Council chairman, Broto Wasisto, said
on Tuesday that members of the team would comprise specialists
from various universities.

According to Broto, the team would consist of 10 specialists
and would examine the health of the candidates in the month
before the election.

He admitted that the IDI has yet to decide on the hospitals to
be used to conduct the health checks.

Broto also said that the results of the medical examinations
would not be publicly announced but rather submitted to the KPU.

Annas, meanwhile, said that the KPU would probably not reveal
the results of the health checks. He failed to explain why this
would be the case.