Megawati to present draft 2000 budget

JAKARTA (JP): The duet of Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri has shown that they are unconventional, and on Jan. 20 they will again break with tradition as it is the Vice President who will present the draft 2000 budget to the House of Representatives.

It is customary for the president to appear and read his address on the draft budget. But due to the condition of Abdurrahman's eyesight, it is Vice President Megawati who is scheduled to do so.

Palace officials said President Abdurrahman would only make introductory remarks and prepare to answer questions from House members during the plenary sessions.

"The Vice President's speech will concentrate on finance and monetary affairs, while the President's off-the-cuff remarks will focus on political issues," said the official.

In another departure of things past, the budget which usually covers the period from April to March the following year, will this year only cover state expenses and revenue for the nine months from April to December.

The government has taken the decision to move the beginning of the fiscal year, starting in 2001, to January.

According to sources, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry, Kwik Kian Gie, is in charge of preparing the initial draft speech. The final draft speech to be read at the House will be the responsibility of Megawati.

"A plenary Cabinet meeting will then adopt the budget draft speech before it is read," the official said.

On the same day the draft budget is presented, Kwik is expected to sign a new letter of intent with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a package to the budget draft.

In a separate development, the President and First Lady Sinta Nuriyah are continuing their treatment with a special medical team from China.

The chief of the presidential medical team, Umar Wahid, is assigned to coordinate the treatment.

"The President's health is excellent, including his diabetes and high blood pressure problems," he said.

The First Lady also received encouraging news, and doctors have suggested that the possibility of her being able to fully walk again remained high. (prb)