Soeharto's health remains poor

Soeharto's health remains poor

JAKARTA: Former president Soeharto's health condition has steadily improved but is still poor, former women's affairs minister during Soeharto's rule, Mien Sugandhi said on Sunday.

Sugandhi was one of a handful of people to visit Soeharto who is reportedly suffering from colon problems which are causing internal bleeding. There has been blood in his stools since last Wednesday.

The surrounding area of the residence of Soeharto was relatively quiet on Sunday with no special guards being seen in the area. Journalists, who were waiting for the latest news of Soeharto's health condition, were gathered outside.

Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti 'Tutut' Rukmana said the former president's poor health was partly caused by news his youngest son Hutomo 'Tommy' Mandala Putra was being tried for murder.

Tommy was finally arrested in November last year after a year on the run evading an 18-month jail term for being found guilty of corruption in a land swap deal between his company PT Goro Batara Sakti and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Soeharto, who was forced to step down in 1998 after ruling the country for 32 years, has been admitted to hospital several times for various health problems, including arteriosclerosis and an unstable blood pressure. -- Antara