Mega holds open house, gives alms to well-wishers

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Top officials, including President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz, received well-wishers in their official residences on the first day of the Idul Fitri celebration on Tuesday.

The annual open house tradition was also held by former presidents Soeharto and Abdurrahman Wahid at their respective residences. It is understood that former president B.J. Habibie spends most of his time in Germany.

However, festive mood was less apparent at Megawati's open house at the State Palace. The first session for ministers and diplomats lasted only for 30 minutes. Not many officials and legislators showed up at the Palace.

Compare to last year, or even two-years ago when she was just appointed President, Tuesday's open house looked fairly quite. Only some politicians from her own the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) showed up.

Abdurrahman's house in Ciganjur, which has just been renovated, was filled with hundreds of guests, including several noted political opponents of Megawati including the President's younger sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, former Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and several Muslim-based politicians.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was among the guests. It was the senior minister's first time visit to Abdurrahman after the later was deposed by Megawati in 2001.

Several foreign envoys including the United States' Ralph L Boyce and United Kingdom's Richard Gozney visited Abdurrahman's house after they went to the State Palace.

Soeharto's house was also filled with guests since early morning with his former officials including former vice president Try Soetrisno, former ministers Radius Prawiro, Ali Alatas, Emil Salim and noted businessman Setiawan Djody.

"This is the first time I see Bapak in the last five-years, he looked fresh and healthy. He received us while standing at the living room," Setiawan said after leaving the former strongman's house.

Soeharto gave around one-hour time for common people in the afternoon.

Less commoners seemed to be turning up at the Palace in the afternoon with only around 2000 people lasting about two hours.

Megawati herself and husband Taufik Kiemas greet the people with smiles and tried to be personal with each of the guests who spent two-hours waiting in the front gate of the Palace.

For the first time since she became President in 2001, Megawati offered donation money for some of the well-wishers amounting from Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000.

Her last guest was an old woman, who was barely able to walk with a straight gait due to her old age. Sarmi came to the Palace wearing shabby t-shirt and sarong, right before the Palace was closed for the people.

"I have been in Jakarta in the past four-months and wanted to go home to Cirebon but haven't got enough money. People told me to come here," Sarmi told reporters after meeting the President.

The trip to the Palace become a good thing for Sarmi as Taufik then order his men to give the old woman some Rp 300,000 for her to go back to her home-town.

"I want to go back home and never return to Jakarta. I am so happy to have met the President," Sarmi said.

The first family flew to Bali on Wednesday for a vacation until Sunday.