MPR INVITES YUDHOYONO FOR HIS INAUGURATION AS PRESIDENT

Jakarta, Oct 16 (ANTARA) - The People's Consultative Assembly has handed an invitation to President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for inauguration on October 20, 2009.

The invitation was handed to President Yudhoyono by five MPR leaders at the presidential office here on Friday morning.

The MPR leaders were MPR chairman Taufiq Kiemas of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction and his four deputies - Melani Leimena Suharli of the Democratic Party, Hajriyanto Tohari of Golkar, Lukman Hakim Saefuddin of the United Development Party (PPP), and Ahmad Farhan Hamid of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

"We have delivered the invitation. Such invitation used to be sent by mail, but now handed in person," Taufiq Kiemas said after meeting with the president.

Similar letters on the presidential inauguration on October 20 at the MPR building were also delivered by Taufiq Kiemas to incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Vice President-elect Boediono.

Taufiq Kiemas said three former presidents BJ Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Megawati Soekarnoputri, who happened to be his wife, were also invited to attend the special occasion.

He promised that Megawati would attend the ceremony.

"Insya Allah (God's willing) Megawati will be present in the inaugural ceremony," Kiemas said, adding that his wife was at present in Singapore for a medical check up.

Besides receiving MPR leaders at his office, President Yudhoyono was also scheduled at 1.30 p.m. on Friday to hold a farewell party with his former cabinet ministers who had assisted him in the past five years.

In a gathering with newsmen at his Puri Cikeas private home in Bogor on Wednesday evening, the president said all the cabinet ministers including those who have been suspended Hamid Awaluddin and Yusril Ihza Mahendra would also be invited to the farewell party.

On the occasion the president said some of the ministers attending the party on Friday would probably reappointed in the next cabinet.