End of The Line: The Hercules Tragedy in Medan Was old age the reason for the terrible crash of the Hercules C-130 transport plane in Medan? Witnesses saw the plane emitting black smoke before its fatal fall. Initialfi ndings by the TNI Air Force cited the possibility of engine failure. That its cause may be a combination of factors, including age and insufficient maintenance, still needs further investigation. Memoirs Muhammad Quraish Shihab With his hair combed neatly to the right, Muhammad Quraish Shihab looks diff erent from how he looks on TV. And in his brown shirt, somehow bigger. “It’s not me, its the TV camera that gets it wrong," the 71-year-old Quraish told Tempo at his home in South Jakarta. Quraish Shihab has authored some 30 books, including Tafsir al-Misbah, a 15-volume work that took him four years to fi nish. In his career, he has held several important posts: including as rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, chairman of the Indonesian Council of Muslim Scholars (MUI), Minister of  Religious Aff airs, and as an ambassador. Quraish has had his share of controversies. He has been criticized for adhering to Shia Islam and was once  berated for allegedly belittling Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims disagree with his arguments on the wearing of the jilbab (headcover for women). With Tempo, Quraish discussed his family life, adolescence, soccer and his close relationship with the second president, Soeharto. National Audit Results Rock The KPU As it looks increasingly unlikely for Golkar to be fully prepared to take part in the December 9 regional elections, the political party is now maneuvering  to delay the polls by putting pressure on the General Elections Commission (KPU). Using the Supreme Audit Agency’s (BPK) audit results—which found  indications of a Rp334 billion breach in the previous election— as a reason, Golkar is demanding that regional elections be delayed. 

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