Mega takes day off after return from Mecca

Mega takes day off after return from Mecca

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri took the day off on Monday,
canceling all scheduled activities upon returning from a minor
haj pilgrimage.

Megawati, who arrived on Monday morning from a three-day
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, was scheduled to receive a number of
guests, including visiting Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins,
members of the Indonesian-Chinese intellectuals community and to
preside over a limited Cabinet meeting.

However, she canceled her appointments upon arrival at Halim
Perdanakusumah air base at 6:30 a.m. "The President is too
tired," a palace press officer said on Monday.

Megawati, who was accompanied by close family members, left
Jakarta for Saudi Arabia on Thursday and was scheduled to return
home Sunday evening.

She decided to delay her flight back home in order to meet
with the Indonesian community in Jeddah.

During the meeting with around 100 Indonesians at the embassy,
President Megawati urged all Indonesian migrants to register with
the embassy.

"How can the government assist you if there is no record of
your existence?" the President said during the meeting as quoted
by detik.com.

She ate lunch with the Indonesian community at the embassy
before departing for Jakarta.

During her visit, Megawati stayed at King Fahd's Guest House.
However, she did not meet with any Saudi Arabia leaders as she
went there solely for a minor pilgrimage.

The presidential entourage included Megawati's husband Taufik
Kiemas, daughter Puan Maharani and Minister of Religious Affairs
Said Agiel Munawar.

Upon her arrival on Monday, the President was greeted by
several Cabinet members, including Indonesian Military (TNI)
chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and Minister of Trade and Industry
Rini Soewandi.

Megawati spent all day at her official residence on Jl. Teuku
Umar, before attending the celebration of Singapore's National
Day later in the afternoon.