National scene: Taufiq celebrates 70th birthday

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JAKARTA: People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Taufiq Kiemas launched his biography Gelora Kebangsaan Tak Kunjung Padam (Unflagging Nationalism) on Monday, which coincided with his 70th birthday.

“This book is a birthday present and is different from his previous books,” book launch committee head Trimedya Panjaitan said at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.

According to Trimedya, the writings of the 471-page biography began in February. The book discusses Taufiq’s life from his childhood in Yogyakarta to present day.

Taufiq’s wife, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman and former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter Puan Maharani, former president BJ Habibie, former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie and Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo were among those that attended the book launch.

During her speech, Puan said that her mother fully supported the book release and had shown a great deal of attention toward the book.

Last week, Taufiq gave copies of the book to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono.