SBY apologises for missing 81st Independence Day due to health check

Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has apologised to the Indonesian public for being unable to attend the 81st Independence Day commemorations in the country, as he is undergoing medical examinations in the United States.

SBY conveyed his apology through a video message recorded in Rochester, United States, and uploaded to the official Instagram account @aniyudhoyono on Sunday.

“To my friends back home, I would like to take this good opportunity, on this historic and joyous day for the Indonesian nation, to wish Indonesia a happy independence day,” said SBY.

SBY said he would remain in Rochester until the end of August 2026 to undergo routine medical examinations at the Mayo Clinic, as a follow-up to prostate surgery he underwent in 2021.

“I personally apologise for not being able to join the celebrations back home, nor attend President Prabowo’s state address. Nor can I attend the commemoration of the proclamation of independence at the Merdeka Palace as I have done in previous years,” he said.

“God willing, in September I will return to Indonesia. The Presidential Medical Team that looks after my health has recommended that, in addition to examinations at home, they also be carried out at the Mayo Clinic. This is because I underwent prostate removal surgery in 2021, and examinations are carried out every year,” he said.

On the occasion, SBY also expressed his optimism about the direction of national development after following President Prabowo Subianto’s state address at the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR RI and DPD RI at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Friday (14/8).

He called on all elements of society to contribute together to achieving better national development.

“Once again, happy independence day to us all, and we all bear a historical responsibility, a moral responsibility, to ensure that our nation, our country, continues to improve, to advance, to become more just and more prosperous,” said SBY.

Previously, on Friday (14/8), Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono said SBY did not attend the 2026 Annual Session of the MPR RI and the Joint Session of the DPR RI-DPD RI because he was undergoing medical examinations abroad.

At the time, AHY said he had held a video call with SBY and received news that the series of medical examinations was proceeding well, although several stages were still ongoing.