Soeharto healthy: Moerdiono
JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono strongly denied yesterday rumors that President Soeharto was seriously ill.
The minister said Soeharto was in very good health and only needed to rest following his exhausting overseas trip.
"I want to categorically deny rumors circulating today, which I heard just a few moments before meeting with the President at his residence, that he has passed away or that he has been rushed to the hospital, or other various baseless rumors," Moerdiono said.
The rupiah sank to a record low against the U.S. dollar yesterday, dropping almost 11 percent, following the widely circulated rumors.
Rumors about Soeharto's health started in Singapore early yesterday morning and continued to Tokyo. The rupiah settled at 4,550/65 to the dollar in Jakarta.
"The President only smiled when I told him about the rumors -- including rumors of his death," Moerdiono said.
Soeharto canceled Friday a planned trip to attend an Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Tehran after the presidential medical expert team advised him to take a 10-day rest.
Soeharto recently concluded a 12-day trip which included Namibia, South Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia, logging more than 28,500 kilometers in distance and 62 hours of flight time.
When asked whether Soeharto would attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) informal summit in Kuala Lumpur Sunday, Moerdiono said: "I'm sorry, I did not have the opportunity to ask him about the summit. Actually he asked me and ambassador at-large Nana Sutresna to report to him on this matter tomorrow (today)."
"The President also ordered members of the monetary council and other related ministers to handle the ongoing monetary crisis, and to continue to strengthen financial programs and economic reforms which he has decided upon," Moerdiono noted.
"He also ordered the drafting of the 1998/1999 fiscal year budget, which will be presented to the House of Representatives in the first week of January," Moerdiono added.
The President also ordered him to meet him every day during his absence from the office, he said.
"He also reminded me about the preparation of the yearly plenary cabinet meeting to be held this month."
Separately, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Soeharto's second son, also said the 76-year-old President was in good health.
"With five days remaining before resuming his activities, he's (Soeharto) fine. He needs no medical treatment. Just a rest. Since starting his leave four days ago, he has received a number of guests," Bambang said on the sidelines of a People's Consultative Assembly session yesterday.
Bambang said certain people might have attempted to take advantage of Soeharto's temporary leave of his state tasks. He, however, refused to elaborate.
When asked about rumors speculating that the fire which razed the central bank tower Monday was part of a move to worsen the economic situation, Bambang was reticent.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said.
"I think it didn't disrupt my father's rest," he answered when reporters asked how the President took the news of the fire. (prb/amd)