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."