Outgoing Hamzah to welcome Kalla

JAKARTA: One day before leaving office Vice President Hamzah Haz will introduce his elected successor Jusuf Kalla to officials at the vice presidential secretariat.

Hamzah's aide Lukman Hakim said on Monday the outgoing Vice President had invited Kalla to his office on Tuesday as a goodwill gesture toward the next government.

Vice presidential secretariat's head of media relations Umar Ramli said there were approximately 300 officials and employees at the secretariat.

Hamzah had earlier this week bade farewell to the secretariat officials, praising them for their services. He had just arrived from a minor pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president- elect Kalla will be inaugurated on Wednesday during a People's Consultative Assembly plenary session. -- JP