Doctor gives Suharto "only 50-50 chance"

By Telly Nathalia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's former president Suharto, who ruled the country for more than three decades, is in a "very critical condition" after almost all his organ functions failed, his doctor told a news conference on Sunday.

Mardjo Soebiandono, chief of the medical team treating the 86-year-old at a Jakarta hospital, said there was only a 50-50 chance that he could survive.

"We have gathered the family twice today to tell them about the possibility that the situation could get worse," Soebiandono said. "The condition of Mr Suharto is very critical."

Earlier Suharto, who suffered multiple organ failure on Friday and has since been on a ventilator, was visited by friend and contemporary Lee Kuan Yew.

Lee is now Singapore's minister mentor, but was its prime minister for decades overlapping much of Suharto's rule in Indonesia.

"I feel sad to see a very old friend with whom I had worked closely over the last 30 years, not really getting the honours that he deserves," Lee told journalists for Singapore media after the visit, according to a Channel News Asia report. "Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to his family and his friends. But there was real growth and real progress," Lee was quoted as saying.

"I think the people of Indonesia are lucky. They had a general in charge, had a team of competent administrators including a very good team of economists."

Lee, 84, flew in from Singapore especially to see Suharto and is the first foreign dignitary known to have visited him in hospital.