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Stomachache forces SBY to reduce activities
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been advised by his doctors to take rest and reduce activities since an illness forced him to cut short a trip outside Jakarta
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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been advised by his doctors to take rest and reduce activities since an illness forced him to cut short a trip outside Jakarta.
On his return on Friday afternoon to Halim Perdanakusuma International airport, Jakarta, from South Sulawesi, the President greeted journalists and said he had recovered from the gastric problems.
“I have recovered. Doctors said I had gastric pains combined with fatigue. Thankfully, because of the medical treatment I got, I have recovered. Thank you for your prayers,” said Yudhoyono, accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.
Yudhoyono had apparently fallen ill after lunch at the residence of a local executive of a state company in Pangkep regency, SouthSulawesi.
Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said Yudhoyono had been feeling much better since Friday morning.
Before heading to Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Yudhoyono had made a brief visit to the construction site of the Centerpoint of Indonesia megaproject, at Losari beach.
Centerpoint is expected to grow into a new business, tourism and education hub for South Sulawesi, and is aiming to boost economic growth in the province.
The stomachache had prevented the President from inaugurating the construction project (worth
Rp 900 billion or US$75.1 million) on Thursday.
The project was subsequently officiated by Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, on the President’s behalf.
During the visit, Yudhoyono should also have attended several other scheduled events, including launching a community empowerment program (PNPM Mandiri) worth Rp 466 billion, and a microcredit (KUR) program worth Rp 702 billion.
“I ask for the forgiveness of the people of South Sulawesi, and especially from those in Pangkep because my health did not permit me to attend events there,” Yudhoyono said.
The illness also forced the President to cancel a trip to the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin where he was scheduled to inaugurate some infrastructure projects and launch a PNPM program.
However, Yudhoyono was able to send Aburizal and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto on his
behalf.
“The doctors told the President to take some more time to rest, to get exercise and to reduce his activities in the coming days. They also told him not to go to Banjarmasin. The President took note of this,” Andi told a news conference at Halim.
“The President has a schedule and this will not be disrupted,” he added.
Another presidential spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal, told The Jakarta Post that Yudhoyono would only use his weekends for rest.
His working schedule next week, including a meeting with Myanmarese prime minister Thein Seinis, will not need to be changed, Djalal said.
Seinis is scheduled to visit Indonesia from March 16-17 to discuss bilateral issues with Yudhoyono.
