MPR CHIEF : PRESIDENT IS NATION'S, NOT CERTAIN GROUP'S LEADER

Jakarta, Oct. 20 (ANTARA) - Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Taufiq Kiemas said at an MPR plenary session here on Tuesday, the country's president and vice president were leaders of the nation, not those of a certain group in Indonesian society.

In his speech at the inauguration of President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono at the MPR Building, Kiemas also hoped that the next general elections could be implemented in better ways than the recent ones.

Kiemas, speaking before 647 MPR members and national and foreign dignitaries, said Yudhoyono and Boediono won the majority of the people's votes in the 2009 direct presidential election.

"Thus, you are the leaders of the nation, and not only leaders of a certain group," he said.

Born in Pacitan (East Java), on September 9, 1949, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was elected as president for a second term (2009-2014).

In his first presidential term (2004-2009), he was assisted by M Jusuf Kalla as vice president.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were among others former President BJ Habibie, former Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, and former Vice President Try Soetrisno.

Former presidents Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Megawati Soekarnoputri were not seen at the event. Megawati is also the wife of MPR Chairman Taufik Kiemas.

A number of neighboring countries' leaders also attended the inauguration of president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president-elect Boediono.

The leaders were Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, and Timor Leste President Ramos Horta.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak sent his elder brother, Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, as a special envoy to the inauguration ceremony, and President Barack Obama sent Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as the head of the US delegation on the occasion.

Other countries that had sent special envoys were Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Czech Republic.