President's husband undergoes tests in Perth

President's husband undergoes tests in Perth

Agencies, Perth, Australia

The husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri was undergoing tests for a heart problem in an Australian hospital on Wednesday, a consular official said.

Taufik Kiemas, a key power broker in Megawati's government, arrived in Perth, the capital of Western Australia state, early Wednesday.

He was admitted to Hollywood private hospital and his condition was not serious, Indonesia's vice consul in Perth, Malik Partawana, said.

"His Excellency, the husband of the President, is just having, first of all, the medical checkup," Malik said.

Taufik, 58, had been admitted to a Jakarta hospital on Tuesday with low blood pressure and fatigue. His physician, Ganesha Harimurti, denied initial reports that he had suffered a heart attack.

Taufik has been treated before by Perth heart specialists several times in recent years, including having cardiac bypass surgery about two years ago.

Taufik was expected to be released from a Perth hospital late Wednesday after a series of checks, Malik said.

"He is in a good condition, but he is resting just now," Malik said. "We expect him to come out of the hospital soon."

The vice consul said Taufik had traveled to Perth with his daughter, who was at her father's bedside.

Asked how long he would be staying in Australia, Malik said: "I don't know -- maybe he wants to go sightseeing or maybe just to rest a while longer."

Presidential aides have said that Megawati has no plans to come to Perth to visit her husband.