Kuala Lumpur - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono cut short his Malaysian visit on Saturday as former Indonesian president Suharto's health turned gravely worse, the official Malaysian news agency said. Yudhoyono, who arrived Friday in Kuala Lumpur and was not due to fly home until late Saturday, left hours earlier than scheduled following news of Suharto's failing health, an official in Yudhoyono's delegation told Bernama.
He met Friday with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, with both leaders agreeing to form a special panel to iron out their bilateral problems.
Doctors said Friday that Suharto, 86, who has been under treatment since January 4, was now in a critical condition as his haemoglobin levels have dropped, and he remained dependent on medical machines.
Suharto was forced to step down in 1998 after ruling Indonesia with an iron fist for 32 years.
