Taufiq Kiemas Passes Away at Hospital in Singapore

Jakarta (Antara) - The Secretary General of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) confirmed that Taufiq Kiemas, the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), had passed away. "I heard from the family that Taufiq Kiemas has died," Tjahyo Kumolo, said here on Saturday evening. Taufiq Kiemas who is also a senior member of the party died in a hospital in Singapore at around 7pm local time or 6.05pm Indonesia Time, he said. Tjahyo said his body is scheduled to be flown to Jakarta on Sunday morning. According to the family Taufiq Kiemas would be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery in Kalibata on Sunday, he said. "According to the information he would be buried beside his father's tomb," he added. Tjahyo said Taufiq Kiemas had been treated at the hospital since four days ago for fatigue after attending a state function namely the commemoration of the birth of the country's state ideology Pancasila in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara on June 1. Upon returning from Ende, Taufiq who was born in December 1942 suffered severe fatigue and left for Singapore on Tuesday (June 4) for treatment. Tjahyo said according to his family Taufiq Kiemas' condition was worsening on Saturday morning but improving later in the evening. Among the family members accompanying Taufiq Kiemas in the hospital were wife former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter Puan Maharani and other children. (*)