SBY fails to attend ceremony at UIN

MALANG: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) disappointed hundreds of guests of the State Islamic University (UIN) in Malang, East Java, after he failed to attend a scheduled ceremony to inaugurate the construction of a new building.

UIN Rector Imam Suprayogo said on Monday that guests had been left waiting by the President for two hours.

At about 10:30 a.m., a presidential aide informed the university that the President was on his way. Shortly afterwards, however, the aide said that the President would not be attending the ceremony as he wanted to talk more with farmers in nearby Batu and Singosari.

The president instead sent Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni to represent him at Monday's ceremony. -- Antara