Soeharto to undergo checkup in Europe

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will leave for Europe tomorrow for a checkup, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced yesterday.

"The president plans to travel to Europe on Sunday. The main reason is for a medical checkup," Moerdiono told reporters at the Merdeka Palace.

He did not name the country of destination, but news agencies said foreign diplomats suggested he was going to Germany, possibly Frankfurt.

Moerdiono said a number of medical experts are already in the European country and making the necessary preparations. The checkup is expected "to take a few days", he added.

He denied rumors that the 75-year-old President is ailing.

"According to the team of presidential doctors, at this moment the President is medically in good condition," he said.

"As you have seen, the President has continued with his routine state and presidential affairs," he said, citing the monthly cabinet meeting on the economy which the President led on Wednesday as an example of how fit the head of state is.

"The President followed his normal schedule today, including meeting and having his photograph taken with members of Indonesia's Olympic team, and having talks with a senior official of the ruling Golkar grouping, the housing minister and the head of the Supreme Advisory Council," he said.

In August 1994, Soeharto underwent a number of medical tests at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, where it was discovered he had kidney stones. The doctors later gave him a clean bill of health.

Asked about the importance of having a checkup abroad, Moerdiono said the decision was made by the President's medical team.

"The President has a routine medical checkup every six months. Because of the need for more sophisticated equipment, the medical team suggested that he have the checkup abroad."

Moerdiono did not explain why more sophisticated equipment was necessary.

Soeharto had his last medical examination on June 29, while the decision to send him abroad for a checkup came in the last few days. "It took a long time to conduct an effective examination on the President's health," Moerdiono said.

No members of the cabinet will accompany the President although a small number of state secretariat staff will be on hand to help with the day-to-day administration, he said.

As in his previous overseas trips, Soeharto will still serve as President while undergoing the checkup, Moerdiono said.

Constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra agreed that by law, the responsibility for state and presidential tasks while a president is abroad or hospitalized remains in the head of state's hands.

"A 1978 decree of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) stipulates that the President remains responsible for state and presidential duties when he is abroad or hospitalized," Yusril told The Jakarta Post last night.

He said that the Vice President could take over the tasks upon the President's order. However, "the authority to make decisions on state policies will remain in the President's hands," he said.

From Kuala Lumpur, AFP reported yesterday that the Malaysian government has received notice from Jakarta that President Soeharto has canceled a planned July 9 working visit.

Officials from the Malaysian foreign ministry said the Malaysian ambassador in Jakarta was officially informed of the cancellation. "We were officially notified today (Friday)," a Malaysian foreign official said.

An Indonesian Embassy official in Kuala Lumpur said Soeharto was originally scheduled to arrive on July 9 for talks with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during a one-day working trip. (imn)