RI needs more 'brain power and energy'

JP/Arief Suhardiman

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono joins other state officials, including Constitutional Court Chief Jimly Asshiddiqie (right), during a special Ramadhan dinner party hosted by Regional Representative Council Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita (center) at his residence in the Widya Chandra state official housing complex in South Jakarta.

In his brief speech during the event on Friday, the President called on state officials, religious leaders, scholars and rich people to devote more brain power and energy to help build the country which was facing a difficult time.

Other state officials in attendance were People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and his deputies A.M. Fatwa and Aksa Mahmud. Vice President Jusuf Kalla had originally been scheduled to attend the gathering, but he did not appear.

Kalla was meeting with delegates from the Malaysian ruling party, UMNO, prior to the event, in which the attendees broke their fast together.