SBY to miss the 81st Independence Day events for medical check up

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) will not attend several events marking the country’s 81st Independence Day as he is undergoing a medical check-up in the United States.

Benny K. Harman, deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, said on Tuesday that Yudhoyono was expected to undergo the check-up until the end of August.

Yudhoyono would therefore miss the annual session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the parliamentary complex and the 81st Independence Day ceremony at the Merdeka Palace Jakarta.

“He is having a check-up in the United States until the end of the month,” Harman told reporters at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

The MPR, House of Representatives (DPR), and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) are preparing for the annual session, which will be held at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday, August 14.

Several national figures have been invited to the session, including former presidents and vice presidents, as well as other political figures.

DPD leaders recently visited the residence of the 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla to deliver an invitation. Kalla said he would attend the event.

Earlier, MPR Deputy Speaker Eddy Soeparno said the MPR annual session and the joint session of the DPR and DPD would be held on Friday (August 14) and would start earlier than usual.

The agenda would generally be similar to those of previous years, but the session would begin earlier to avoid coinciding too closely with Friday prayers.

“We cannot hold it on the previous days because the maximum limit is three days before August 17. So, August 14 is the most ideal date,” Soeparno said.