Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) — Former Indonesian President Suharto
responded to stimulus today, his doctors said, adding the 86-
year-old remains in critical condition.
“Although Suhartos vital organs havent improved, his
level of consciousness has, Yusuf Misbach, a doctor treating
him, told reporters in Jakarta. “Suharto could open his eye and
move his hand. His pupil and cornea reactions are also getting
better.
Suharto was put on respiratory support on Jan. 11 after
vital organs stopped functioning and doctors yesterday gave him a
“50-50 chance of survival.
Suhartos condition has fluctuated since he was admitted to
Jakartas Pertamina hospital on Jan. 4. Only his brain and
digestive system were functioning normally yesterday, said Mardjo
Soebiandono, head of Suhartos medical team.
Medics spoke with members of Suhartos family twice
yesterday to discuss his deteriorating health, Soebiandono said.
Doctors will keep trying to save the former president and not
give up until all his vital organs fail, Soebiandono added.
“Suhartos will to survive is very strong, Soebiandono
said. “This may be because hes a former soldier. If I were him,
I would have gone.
Suhartos family yesterday authorized medics to decide when
he should be taken off life support systems.
Indonesias second president was taken off sedatives earlier
today to test his consciousness and he responded to verbal
commands by moving his hand, Soebiandono said at a separate
briefing.
Mahathir Visits
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited
Suharto. Singapores Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew saw him
yesterday.
Mahathir whispered in Suhartos ear and held his left hand,
Moerdiono, state secretary during Suhartos regime, told
reporters. The former Malaysian premier and his wife then prayed
for Suharto, Moerdiono said.
Suharto isnt getting the “honor that he deserves for
developing Indonesias economy, Singapores Straits Times
newspaper cited Lee as saying after his visit.
Expanding Economy
Under Suharto, Southeast Asias biggest economy expanded by
6.1 percent a year during the 1980s, placing it among the worlds
10 fastest growing economies, according to the World Bank.
The former dictator ruled Indonesia for 32 years until he
was forced to resign after student-led protests in May 1998, a
year after a financial crisis in the country.
Suharto, who had corruption charges against him dropped in
2006 on health grounds, is fighting civil cases for alleged
misappropriation of funds. The government on Jan. 12 proposed an
out-of-court settlement to the civil lawsuits, an offer the
family is considering.
“A win-win solution implies Suharto has done some wrong,
Suhartos lawyer Mohammad Assegaf said, referring to Attorney
General Hendraman Supanjis comment that an out-of-court
settlement would be a “win-win solution.
“We reject any solution that implies that Suharto has done
something wrong, Assegaf said.
The former dictator is alleged to have taken as much as $35
billion, averaging 1.3 percent a year of Indonesias gross
domestic product, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime. Assegaf has said the UN report is “nonsense.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Aloysius Unditu in Jakarta at
