Tien's insurance goes to needy

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will use some of the payment from his late wife Mrs. Siti Fatimah Hartinah Soeharto's insurance policy to support activities undertaken by social foundations which the first lady used to chair, an official said.

Sugiarto, chairman of the state-owned insurance company AJB Bumiputera 1912, said President Soeharto has asked the company to take the interest of the fund to pay for the activities.

"The insurance fund will be deposited at the Bumiputera Bank," Sugiarto said after he met with President Soeharto at the Merdeka Palace to discuss the fund from the insurance policy that Mrs. Tien opened in 1992.

Sugiarto, however, declined to name the amount of the policy.

He said that since the first lady died before the five-year policy was up, her beneficiaries were entitled to the insurance payment.

Mrs. Siti Fatimah Hartinah Soeharto died of a heart attack at the Army's Gatot Subroto Hospital on April 29. She was 72.

Mrs. Tien was well-known for social activities. A recipient of several medals of honor, including the highest Mahaputra award, she was the founder of the noted Taman Mini and numerous charity organizations such as the Harapan Kita hospital and the Gotong Royong Humanitarian Fund. (01)