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Indonesians have been re-examining their past with former president Suharto |
Although he kept a low profile since his downfall a decade ago, his impact and influence brought a steady stream of high-profile visitors have been at his bedside.
The first foreign dignitary known to have visited Mr Suharto in hospital is Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who flew in from Singapore over the weekend after the former president took a turn for worse on Friday 11 January. Mr Lee had maintained close ties with the Indonesian strongman during and after his time in government. According to a former state secretary Moerdiono, the former Indonesian leader was either sleeping or unconscious when Mr Lee, accompanied by Mr Suharto's three daughter, entered the hospital room and went up to the former general to touch him.
A day later, the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah paid a visit as did former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Dr Mahathir flew to Jakarta with his wife, and deputy Malaysian ambassador for the hospital visit. Mr Moerdiono later told reporters that Dr Mahathir had had whispered several times into Mr Suharto's ear:'Mahathir has come,'" and spent some time praying.
Both Dr Mahathir and Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee are in their 80s and are contemporaries of Mr Suharto.
Since the former president's hospitalisation there have also been a steady stream of well-wishes and Indonesian VIP visitors to the Pertamina Hospital including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. When the Mr Suharto's condition took a turn for the worse, Vice president Yusuf Kalla rushed to the hospital and was seen comforting members of the Suharto family.
Outside the hospital, small groups of supporters occasionally gather, fondly remembering the former President for the time when the basics of life such as foodstuffs and fuel were more affordable.
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