President to hold his Cabinet's first session

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to preside over his first plenary Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning at Bina Graha presidential office, Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie said.

Speaking after meeting with Abdurrahman at the State Guest House, Kwik said the Cabinet would discuss several major subjects, including the formation of the National Economic Council.

Kwik indicated that the situation faced by the Cabinet was actually not as bad as previously expected, including on food supply and budgetary problems.

"Our social condition has been stable, and our political situation has also been stable," Kwik said.

Palace officials said the Cabinet meeting is scheduled to last three hours and would be attended by all 35 Cabinet members.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to assume an important role in the Cabinet due to Abdurrahman's sight problem, they said.

Megawati will also be fully in charge of government activities for five days, as the President is expected to depart to Singapore on Friday as part of his introductory visit to neighboring member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Abdurrahman is also scheduled to visit Malaysia and the Philippines.

Sources also said that following his visit to Manila, Abdurrahman would take a private trip to the United States for medical treatment on his waning eyesight.

However, there is still no official confirmation about his schedule, as the presidential household chief, Kemal Munawar, is still touring the state capitals to arrange the details of the working visits.

"What we know is that the President will likely be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab and State Secretary Ali Rahman," one official said.

Apart from his overseas trip, the President also plans to move to his official residence at Merdeka Palace this month from his temporary residence at the State Guest House.

Megawati has moved to her official residence in Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta. (prb)