Special masseur hired for Akbar

JAKARTA (JP): Massage is widely prescribed to relieve strained muscles resulting from a strenuous workout.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also chose this traditional therapy by hiring a special masseur during the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) he is attending.

The masseur, Sugi Mustopha, was brought from Surakarta, Central Java, the hometown of Akbar's wife Krisnina Maharani.

Sugi, a father of three sons, is staying at Akbar's official residence in Wijaya Chandra, South Jakarta, during the 12-day session.

Akbar also employed Sugi during last year's MPR General Session. "I stayed at the Hotel Mulia at that time," Sugi, 36, said.

Besides Akbar, Sugi massages Assembly deputy speaker Husni Thamrin. In return, Sugi admitted to receiving between Rp 100,000 and Rp 200,000 a session.

Golkar top executives were reportedly also undergoing massage therapy at the hotel where they are staying at on Friday at about 2 a.m. after an exhausting meeting that ended at midnight. (jun)