Soeharto in good health, says Hardijanti Rukmana

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto is in good spirits and is staying at home, his eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana said.

"He is in good health thanks to the prayers of the people of Indonesia," Hardijanti told reporters after relinquishing her position as minister of social services to Justika S. Baharsjah at a ceremony yesterday.

It was Hardijanti's first public appearance after she accompanied her father to Merdeka Palace on Thursday, when he announced his resignation.

Soeharto has not made any public appearances since the announcement and he is believed to have been staying at his Jl. Cendana residence.

Hardijanti, who was appointed minister by Soeharto in March, was omitted from the new cabinet by President B.J. Habibie.

Regarding her own future, she said she had always been active in promoting social causes, and this she intended to continue, Antara reported.

In her brief term as minister, Hardijanti oversaw the government's campaign to distribute free food to poor people and laid off workers affected by the economic crisis.

She also managed a new fund collected from salaries of cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.

She said the ministry had collected Rp 18,650 million, out of which Rp 2,275 million had been used. She handed over the remainder of the money to Justika yesterday.

"I'd like to thank everyone at the Ministry of Social Services for assisting me in the last two months and one week," she said at the ceremony.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Information, Alwi Dahlan handed over his post to Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah.

In his address, Yunus said as minister he would like to review the country's controversial press law and broadcasting law.

The new minister faced a barrage of questions shortly after the ceremony, particularly concerning the revocation of publishing licenses and possibly reviving the publication permits of publications like Tempo weekly.

"I will have to learn about it (reviving permits) first, I don't want to comment too hastily,

"Insya Allah (God's willing), I will not disappoint you... and Insya Allah there'll be no more revocation of publication permits. I believe all of you want to do your best for the nation," he added. (emb/aan)