Mega's wealth rockets by Rp 15b in 3 years: KPK

Mega's wealth rockets by Rp 15b in 3 years: KPK

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surakarta/Mataram

In three years, the amount of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
verified assets has increased by more than Rp 15 billion (US$1.6
million) to over Rp 75 billion, the Corruption Eradication
Commission (KPK) announced on Wednesday.

KPK member Amin Sunaryadi said he and three other commission
officials visited Megawati earlier in the day at her Teuku Umar
residence in Central Jakarta to seek clarification on her
personal financial report.

The commission found the Megawati's assets were worth a total
of Rp 75,057,768,545 on Aug. 26 this year, an increase from the
Rp 59,809,315,484 reported on March 26, 2001, Amin said.

Amin attributed the more than Rp 15 billion increase in
Megawati's assets to savings from her monthly presidential salary
of more than Rp 50 million and profits from her businesses.

Megawati owns several gas stations in Jakarta, she built
before being elected as the country's vice president in 1999.

On Tuesday morning, presidential contender Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono went to the KPK office to clarify his wealth, which was
reported at Rp 4.5 billion in 2004.

When becoming a member of the Cabinet in 1999, Susilo reported
to the now-defunct Civil Servants Wealth Report Audit Commission
(KPKPN) his wealth amounted to Rp 3.4 billion.

Susilo and running mate Jusuf Kalla will face the pair of
Megawati and Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20 presidential election
runoff. All candidates are required to report their wealth to the
KPK.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hasyim also arrived at the commission's
office and declared his total verified wealth stood at Rp 7.6
billion. Earlier reports said he was worth some Rp 7.2 billion.

Jusuf Kalla, who is also a wealthy businessman, is expected to
appear at the KPK office at around 10 a.m. on Thursday to verify
his personal assets.

Meanwhile, Megawati received Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan
Hamengkubowono X on Wednesday night at her Teuku Umar residence,
apparently to solicit his support for her reelection bid.

During the meeting, Hamengkubowono and Megawati autographed
joint portraits and agreed to distribute them to the public ahead
of the runoff.

Hamengkubowono, who is a Golkar Party member, said he believed
the distribution of the pictures would help boost support for
Megawati.

The President also visited Habib Anis al-Habsyi at his home in
Surakarta, Central Java. She was accompanied by Minister of
Agriculture Bungaran Saragih and Central Java Governor
Mardiyanto.

Habib Anis however said he was not specifically giving
Megawati his support. "I will welcome all presidential
candidates," he said.

Separately, Hasyim visited Nahdlatul Ulama supporters in the
group's strongholds in West Nusa Tenggara. He is the non-active
leader of the country's largest Muslim organization.

The NU-founded National Awakening Party (PKB) decided on
Wednesday that it would stay neutral in the election runoff and
allows its supporters to vote for either Megawati or Susilo.

Also on Wednesday, Susilo visited NU influential cleric Ilyas
Ruchyat who chairs the Cipasung Islamic boarding school in
Tasikmalaya, West Java.

Ilyas told Susilo to be strong and have courage as well as to
maintain good relations with all interests if he was elected the
new president.

Susilo is scheduled to meet the sultan of Cirebon, West Java,
on Thursday.

In the meantime, Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, who was
discharged from Jakarta's Harapan Kita cardiac hospital on
Wednesday, will be flown to Penang, Malaysia, for further medical
treatment.