Soeharto to undergo checkup in Europe

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)