Palace ready to welcome Susilo

Palace ready to welcome Susilo

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Presidential Palace received a major makeover on Monday ahead
of the inauguration of president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
on Wednesday.

Susilo, unlike outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
plans to reside at the palace. Workers have renovated the
president's office and a waiting room for journalists.

"There are no problems. The security, protocol and household
arrangements are all ready," outgoing State Secretary Bambang
Kesowo said on Monday.

The President's secretary, Kemal Munawar, said there were
ongoing discussions with Susilo's team regarding preparations for
the transition.

"We are keeping in touch to welcome the new president," Kemal
told The Jakarta Post.

According to the schedule for the renovation work, Susilo may
have to stay in the Wisma Negara (State Guest House) for several
days before moving in to Merdeka Palace.

"This is just in case further adjustments are needed at
Merdeka Palace," a member of the presidential secretariat said.

Merdeka Palace is the official residence of Indonesian
presidents. However, only founding president Sukarno and former
president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid resided at the palace
during their terms.

Susilo's new office in the palace is complete, and Megawati
tried it out when she chaired her last Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The office used to be a museum before being renovated for
Megawati. The renovation work finished last year, but Megawati
had not used the office until Monday.

During most of her three years in office, Megawati worked from
the State Palace because she refused to use former president
Soeharto's office.

A waiting room for the press, located about 300 meters from
the president's office, is also ready.

"Journalists will stay in the room and will only be allowed to
enter the president's office for press conferences," an official
told the Post.

"Since this is also the president's residence, we have to
limit the movement of journalists and other guests for security
reasons."