House commission on health re-elects chairwoman

House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health and manpower issues has re-elected Ribka Tjiptaning of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle to chair the commission for the 2009-2014 period.

Ribka's re-election was decided during a commission meeting on Thursday led by House Deputy Speaker Marwoto.

She will chair the commission together with deputy chairmen Ahmad Nizar Shihab of the Democratic Party, Irgan Chaerul Mahfiz of the United Development Party (PPP) and Sumarjati Arjoso of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

Ribka, the daughter of a banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) activist, triggered controversy of a so called “communism infiltration” when she and former student activist  Budiman Sujatmiko, were appointed in PDI-P leadership in 2006. (hdt)