Susilo to take leave for family wedding

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As his firstborn son will be married this week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has taken three days off, starting Thursday, to oversee wedding preparations.

First Lt. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, 27, will marry model and television host Annisa Larasati Pohan, 24, the daughter of former Bank Indonesia deputy governor Aulia Pohan.

Leave of absence for an Indonesian president for private matters is not regulated, other than if time off has been requested due to political commitments in the campaign period prior to an election.

Agus and Annisa will exchange vows on Friday after prayers at Aulia's house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

Traditional Javanese ceremonies will be held the day before at Susilo's private residence in Cikeas, near Bogor and at Aulia's house.

The reception will be held on Saturday night at the Bogor Palace, which has 28 hectares of grounds.

Presidential Spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said the wedding would not be an extravagant affair.

"Everything has been calculated, and will be covered by the presidential household budget. But the President has done some cost cutting so that it will not burden the state budget," Andi said.

Nevertheless, judging by preparations, it will not be a modest event either.

The wedding dresses, for instance, were designed by Adjie Notonegoro, a favorite designer among celebrities, whose dresses can cost over Rp 100 million (around US$10,500).

In charge of documentation, meanwhile, is director Garin Nugroho, known for his art-house films.

The eldest of two sons, Agus was the top graduate from the 2000 class of the Military Academy, and now serves in Karawang, West Java. Susilo was named the top graduate of the academy in 1973.

Agus first met Annisa in Bandung, West Java, when she was studying at Padjadjaran University.

Annisa is a celebrity in her own right. She once won a modeling contest sponsored by a shampoo company and currently hosts a sports show aired by private TV station.