SBY to speak on Pancasila Day, Megawati to attend

Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to attend the commemoration of Pancasila Day at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, which will see President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono deliver a speech to mark the anniversary of the state ideology.

A People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) spokesman said Megawati had confirmed her attendance on Monday and, up until Tuesday morning, there was no sign of her withdrawal.

“God willing [she will] attend. The latest report said she had confirmed her attendance,” the spokesman said.

The event is organized by the MPR, which is currently led by Megawati’s husband Taufik Kiemas. Megawati was invited as a former president as well as a daughter of founding president Sukarno, who 65 years ago declared Pancasila the state ideology.

Megawati has always avoided a direct encounter with Yudhoyono, except when they met at the General Election Commission ahead of the presidential election last year.

As of 9 a.m. state officials, foreign ambassadors and other guests, including Megawati’s sister Sukmawati, had turned up for the ceremony.

President Yudhoyono is scheduled to deliver his speech at 10 a.m.