The neutrality checks have been explained in the manual."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Two pairs of the Indonesian presidential hopefuls, Joko Widodo or Jokowi and his running mate M. Jusuf Kalla, another pair Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa were required to have their health checked by medical specialists.
Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla, better known as JK underwent their medical check at the Armys Gatot Subroto hospital (RSPAD) in Jakarta on Thursday, May 22, 2014.
However, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa are expected to have their health check on Friday, May 23.
The health check of the presidential and vice presidential candidates have been required by the General Election Commission (KPU) before the upcoming July 9 presidential elections.
Jokowi and JK of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) arrived at the RSPAD on Thursday morning for the medical test which lasted for about eight hours or at 4 p.m.
Both Jokowi and JK arrived together at 7.42 am at the hospital where they were greeted by hospitals officials, medical team, and KPU commissioners Hadar Nafis Gumay and Ferry Kurnia.
According to Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) General Chairman dr.Zaenal Abidin, the medical test included internal disease, heart and blood vessels, lungs, urology, orthopedic, neurology, and other things.
Dr. Zaenal said a total of 15 teams of the medical specialists have been prepared to check the health condition of the presidential and vice presidential candidates who will compete in the upcoming July 9 presidential election,
Fourteen teams of the medical specialists were gathered by the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) and another team was prepared by the Gatot Subroto hospital, the IDI chief said here on Sunday.
"All the medical team members are ready to check the health condition of the presidential and vice presidential candidates beginning Monday (May 19)," he stated.
At least 46 medical specialists have been prepared from May 19 through May 23 for the health checking of the president and vice president hopefuls, Zaenal said, adding that Gatot Subroto hospital provides a dentists and psychologists.
According to him, fourteen teams of the medical specialists are internists, experts in cardiac and blood vessel field, experts in lung, surgery, urological surgery, orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and neurology, including ophthalmologists.
In the meantime, the RSPAD chairman, Brigadier General dr. Douglas S Umboh, MARS stressed that his side is neutral and independent in implementing the medical check against the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls.
"The neutrality checks have been explained in the manual. The medical specialists who will perform the medical tests shall not involve in political organization, not a private physician of presidential, vice presidential candidates," Zaenal disclosed.
Dr. Douglas further said, although RSPAD belongs to the Army, the Indonesian military (TNI) has expressed its neutrality although this hospital organizes the health check of the presidential hopeful with military background.
"The hospital management will impose stern sanction to anyone who violates the medical check rules. The IDI chairman and I always remind the medical team to keep the neutrality. So there should be no doubt regarding the neutrality," dr. Douglas stated.
Meanwhile, IDI chairman dr.Zaenal Abidin explained that all the medical team members who have been trusted to conduct the medical checks against the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls are very qualified in their field.
IDI directly selected the team of doctors based on their credibility and their track records.
"We directly required the medical associations concerned to choose the best doctors," dr.Zaenal said, adding that all the medical team members should at least have 15 years experience.
Thus, the specialists thoroughly mastered their field of works and competently perform the medical tests.
It was also reported that such medical test for JK was the third of its kind, the first is when JK served as vice president in pair with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the 2004-2009 period, the second in 2009 when JK was one of presidential candidates.
In addition, the General Election Commission (KPU) commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay said that the presidential and vice presidential candidates who failed in medical tests should be replaced by the party supporting him.
According to Hadar a candidate who does not pass the health test a potential successor should be prepared within three days.
The successor should also complete the required document and will also undergo the similar health test, he pointed out.
Six political parties lending their support to Prabowo and Hatta are the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Golkar Party, and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB).
(T.B003/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
