Soeharto's health on the mend: Doctor

JAKARTA (JP): Doctors said on Saturday that former president Soeharto was on the mend four days after he was admitted to Pertamina Hospital for a mild stroke.

Hospital director Sudjono Martoadmodjo said Soeharto no longer felt dizzy and had stop vomiting. Intensive physiotherapy sessions were being held to help the 78-year-old former strongman regain the use of his right hand and right leg.

"His speech is improving, his fingers and right arm are stronger, the strength of his right leg is almost normal," Sudjono said in a statement.

The former first family used two VVIP rooms and one VIP room, which cost Rp 1 million (about US$145) and Rp 375,000 per day respectively.

Former state minister of food Ibrahim Hasan, who visited Soeharto on Saturday, said doctors also had removed Soeharto's intravenous drip. According to him, Soeharto was also able to say the Dhuha (morning) prayer while lying in bed.

"I saw Pak Harto saying the Dhuha prayer while lying down. He put his hands on his chest (in prayer)," Ibrahim said as quoted by Antara.

Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardiyanti Rukmana told Ibrahim that her father would soon leave the hospital and continue his medical treatment at home on Jl. Cendana in Menteng area, Central Jakarta.

His son Sigit Harjojudanto said Soeharto's children did not have any plans to take their father abroad for further medical treatment. He pointed out, however, they would take into account any recommendations by Soeharto's medical team.

"It all depends on the team's recommendations," he said.

In July 1996, upon the recommendation of then state minister of research and technology B.J. Habibie, Soeharto went to Germany for a medical checkup in the spa town of Bad Oeynhausen. Habibie himself previously had a heart operation there.

Soeharto's residence is equipped with sophisticated medical equipment, placed there following the demise of his wife Tien Soeharto in April 1996 at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta. Soeharto also had special facilities built for him at Pertamina Hospital then because he was not satisfied with the facilities at the Army hospital.

Meanwhile, five people who claimed to have supernatural powers visited the former president on Saturday morning at the request of Soeharto's daughter.

"We came here at the request of Mbak Tutut," Mas Haryo Panuntun, one of the five, told Antara.

He said they went to see Soeharto after receiving four telephone calls from Soeharto's daughter. However, they could not meet with the patient.

"We will come again on Monday when he can speak to us," Mas Haryo said. (prb)