First Lady cried, Sudi says

First Lady Kristiani “Ani” Herawati Yudhoyono could not hold back her tears after reading a news reports published in an Australian newspaper that alleged that she and her relatives had sought to profit financially from her husband's position, an official says.

“The First Lady cried [for being called a broker],” State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

Australian newspaper The Age published an article titled “Yudhoyono 'abused power'”, quoting diplomatic cables from the US Embassy in Jakarta that were exposed recently by WikiLeaks, referring to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Among the cables are allegations that Ani and her relatives had made efforts “to profit financially from [the Yudhoyono family’s] political position”.

In 2006, the US Embassy in Jakarta told Washington that “First Lady Kristiani Herawati is increasingly seeking to profit personally by acting as a broker or facilitator for business ventures”, The Age reports.

Sudi said the first words that Ani said after reading the report were: “Naudzubillah [Alas], we did not do those things, but it is said that we did”.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa defended Ani.

“We have been socializing with the First Lady. She has dedicated herself to be by the President's side. She is also dedicated to building Rumah Pintar (education facilities), Mobil Pintar (mobile libraries) and other social activities. She has been transparent in doing her activities,” he said.