JAKARTA, July 20: Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, 75, has resumed his love for painting in his hospital room while currently undergoing treatment at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta.
He is reported to be showing positive progress, according to a statement posted on his official Instagram account, although his right hand is still attached to an intravenous drip.
Yudhoyono – widely known as SBY – has been creating artworks using his left hand.
“A set of painting tools was made available in the hospital room this morning…he held the brush and painted with all his heart, blending colours together. It was a touching moment,” the post said on Saturday.
A photo of the artwork in progress was also shared, though the piece is not yet complete and is still being refined. It will be shared again once finished.
The statement also asked the public to pray for SBY, who has a deep love for the arts, music, and poetry, to recover soon and return to his daily routine.
Democratic Party spokesperson Herzaky Mahendra Putra confirmed that SBY is receiving medical treatment, though no official details have been released about his illness.
Born in Pacitan, East Java, SBY was the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. He was also the country’s first directly elected president through a presidential election.
— BERNAMA