Jakarta - President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia cancelled all appointments on short notice yesterday to undergo a "routine" medical check-up, a palace official said, sending jitters through the financial markets.
"Today's appointments schedule was set up by presidential secretary [Mr Ratih Harjono] without remembering that a medical check-up has already been scheduled for Mr President," the Cabinet Secretary, Mr Marsilam Simanjuntak, told journalists. Asked if the 59-year-old president was ill, Mr Simanjuntak replied: "No it's just a check-up. He is undergoing a routine medical check-up."