Soeharto marriage rumors 'untrue'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's half brother Probosutedjo last night denied recent rumors that Soeharto would remarry after the wedding of his youngest son, Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra.

"It is not true at all, it is a slander," said Probosutedjo in a surprising statement broadcast by the state-run TVRI last night.

"It is not true that President Soeharto, 75, will marry a female dentist, the younger sister of Pertiwi," he said in the interview held after the launch of his book titled The religious belief of a teacher turned businessman..

Pertiwi is the wife of Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, Soeharto's business confidant.

President Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra was married in a stylish ceremony Wednesday. Soeharto looked happy and relieved during the ceremony, because it was the last of his children to marry.

President Soeharto, who is strongly predicted by political analysts to be reelected next March for a seventh five-year term, lost his wife, Siti Hartinah on April 28, 1996.

Probosutedjo said it was impossible for Soeharto to marry again, as it would affect his relationship with his six children.

"When he remarries, legally it is his wife who has the right to manage his home. This can separate him from his children," Antara quoted him as saying.

"I do believe Pak Harto knows this consequence very well, and I do not need to teach him. It is not Pak Harto's character to be apart from his children," the business tycoon added.

Probosutedjo said he checked the rumors personally with Soeharto about a month ago but the President flatly denied them.

"Marry to whom?" Soeharto was quoted by Probosutedjo as saying.

After checking the rumors, Probosutedjo found Pertiwi Hasan did not have a younger sister at all.

"Soeharto's dentist is a man and not a woman as the rumors said," Probosutedjo added. (06)