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.