Senior legislators passed mental test

Senior legislators passed mental test

JAKARTA (JP): Old faces in the People's Consultative Assembly
prove they can match their younger colleagues during the General
Session now underway, thanks in part to mental tests they once
undertook.

Senior politician Sabam Sirait of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle could not avoid disclosing the perhaps unusual
story when intervening a debate in an Ad Hoc Committee II session
he presided over on Wednesday.

"In 1971, all legislative candidates underwent a mandatory
test at Grogol Mental Hospital. Sadly not many of you know this,"
75-year-old Sabam told the floor, most of whom are dozens of
years his junior.

The mental examination is no longer used.

"I agreed to the procedure because Mrs. Aisyah Amini complied
with it too," he said to the smiling face of United Development
Party member Aisyah who sat next to him.

Both Sabam and Aisyah are two of a few long-time Assembly
legislators. Unlike West Sumatra native Aisyah, Sabam took two
year's leave in 1997 following a split in his former party, the
Indonesian Democratic Party. (amd)