SBY, Kalla break the fast with officers

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 10/09/2007 8:35 AM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla broke the tradition of organizing in-house gatherings to break the fast Monday, instead visiting the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta for the occasion.

Both Yudoyono and Kalla were accompanied by their respective wives -- Kristiani Herawati Yudhoyono and Mufidah Kalla -- during the event. They arrived at the police headquarters at 5 p.m., detik.com reported.

Present at the gathering were National Police chief Gen. Sutanto, former police chief Gen. (ret) Da'i Bachtiar and former deputy police chief Comr. Gen. (ret) Adang Daradjatun, while Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S., Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda were among Yudhoyono's entourage.

The President and the Vice President then performed Maghrib (sunset) prayers along with hundreds of police officers at the Al Ikhlas Mosque, which is situated inside the police headquarters.

Separately, head of the state palace's household division, M. Rusdi, said the President would not return to his hometown for the Idul Fitri holiday.

Since Yudhoyono was installed as the country's leader three years ago, he has never returned to his home in Pacitan, East Java, to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Instead, his mother Siti Habibah and his family from East Java visit him at his residence in Cikeas, Bogor.

After performing Idul Fitri prayers, the President will hold sungkeman -- a traditional ritual to forgive each other on Idul Fitri -- with his family at the state palace.

He will then welcome the Vice President and his family at 10 a.m.

An hour later, ministers and high-ranking government officials and ambassadors from several countries, along with their families, are slated to meet the President.

People will also have the opportunity to meet the President and his family between 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those who miss the event can visit the President in his residence on the next day.

However, Rusdi said that he was not yet able to confirm whether the open house event would be held on Oct. 12 or 13 because the official announcement on Idul Fitri would only be made the night before.

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