National figure Roeslan in ICU

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Independence figure Roeslan Abdulgani is in the intensive care unit at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, where he is being treated for a mild stroke and a lung infection.

A member of the medical team treating the 91-year-old man, Hafild B. Abdulgani, said on Sunday afternoon that Roeslan, who is better known as Cak Roes, was in critical condition.

Hafild, who is also Roeslan's son, told Antara the presidential medical team was treating the former foreign minister, who served in the administration of founding president Sukarno.

Presidential medical team coordinator Djoko Rahardjo said Roeslan was admitted to the intensive care unit on Friday,

A family member said Roeslan suffered a mild stroke the previous week. Roeslan was already in poor health before the stroke with a lung infection.

The relative added that Roeslan's health problems could be partly explained by the demanding schedule of meetings he continued to maintain despite his age.

Roeslan has been seen at several gatherings organized by a splinter group of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The medical team said Roeslan stood a great chance of recovering.

Since arriving at the hospital Roeslan has received a number of guests, including former president Soeharto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta Swasono, whose late father, Mohammad Hatta, the country's first vice president, was a close friend of Cak Roes. Two members of the PDI-P splinter group, Sophan Sophiaan and Arifin Panigoro, have also visited Roeslan.