President accepts secretary Ratih's resignation
President accepts secretary Ratih's resignation
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has accepted the
resignation of his secretary Ratih Hardjono, acting State
Secretary Bondan Gunawan disclosed on Thursday.
Bondan, who is also the secretary of Development Supervision,
said the President approved Ratih's resignation to enable her to
concentrate on her wedding plans to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
executive Fajrul Falakh.
"They plan to marry in November this year," Bondan told
journalists at Bina Graha presidential office.
Bondan said the President had not decided on Ratih's
successor. Ratih plans to effectively leave her post on April 1.
On Thursday, Ratih was still busy carrying out her duties,
accompanying the President during a meeting with Aceh leaders
here in the morning and then chairing a working meeting with her
staff in the afternoon.
When asked about the President's comment on Ratih's
resignation, Bondan replied: "Why should a resignation be
commented on?"
Presidential secretary Ratih tendered her resignation to the
President last week after just four months on the job.
Born in Bandung, West Java, on Dec. 6, 1960, Ratih worked as a
Kompas daily correspondent in Australia for several years before
becoming Abdurrahman's assistant in 1998.
When asked about the reasons for her resignation, Bondan said
"she wants to quit because she will marry and she wants to avoid
KKN (collusion, corruption, and nepotism)".
Her fiancee, Fajrul, is one of the NU deputy chairmen. He is
also the member of the newly established National Commission of
Law. Fajrul was born in Gresik, East Java, on Apr. 29, 1959.
Ratih has refused to comment on her resignation.
Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, Fajrul has also brushed off questions
about his planned wedding.
"Just ask Mbak Ratih about that," he said on the sidelines of
a seminar.
As journalists persisted with their questions, Fajrul
continued to remain aloof and approached famed soothsayer
Permadi, who is also a member of the House of Representatives
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction.
Permadi said Fajrul initially planned his wedding reception
for May 1, but then changed it to a later date.
"Pak Permadi suggests that my wedding must be held on May 16,"
said Fajrul.
Permadi explained that Ratih decided to choose Fajrul as her
husband because he is very similar to her father.
"I know the answer, because Mas Fajrul resembles her (Ratih)
father," Permadi said. (prb/44/edt)