SBY Likely to Be Absent from the Independence Day Ceremony due to Medical Check-Up

JAKARTA - The 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or SBY is likely not to attend the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, both in the Nusantara Capital and Jakarta. SBY is undergoing routine health checks.

The Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the government had not received all confirmations from former presidents and vice presidents who were invited in the series of August 17 commemorations.

"Not all of it is complete confirmation because some of them just contacted us today," said Prasetyo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 12.

According to Prasetyo, one of the people who is likely not to attend is SBY.

"President SBY happens to be undergoing routine medical check-ups, so it is likely that he will not be able to attend the ceremony at IKN or in Jakarta," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the presence of the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, Prasetyo said the government was still waiting for confirmation.

"For Mega, we will update if there is certainty," he said.

The government previously began sending official invitations to former presidents, former vice presidents, as well as the families of presidents and vice presidents to attend the commemoration of the moments of the Proclamation.

Preparations for the ceremony at the Merdeka Palace itself entered the dirty rehearsal stage since Wednesday. The inauguration of the Pusaka Flag Raising Force or Paskibraka is scheduled to take place on August 15.