Robert Go, Jakarta – A battery of 520 questions from psychiatrists checking for psychosis, neurosis, retardation or personality complexes; up to 30 minutes on the treadmill to determine cardio-fitness; and spirometry tests to assess lung capacity.
These are just some of the trials that candidates for Indonesia's top jobs have to go through before voters take their pick during presidential elections in July.
A team of 60 doctors, all experts in their respective specialisations, have the job of signing off, or not, on candidates' files. Each exam could take as long as seven hours to perform.
Indeed, President Megawati Sukarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi appeared tired in their blue hospital gowns after the marathon sessions at the Army hospital in Jakarta yesterday.
On top of everything that male candidates have to submit themselves to, Ms Megawati also endured a 30-minute gynaecological session.
Reports said that even former generals Wiranto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who are presumably in better shape than their peers due to many years of exercise and discipline, appeared ruffled after their ordeals with physicians last month.
Officials declined to disclose how much all these tests are costing taxpayers. But a member of the presidential medical team said: "Well, CT scans, mammography sessions or MRI tests are not cheap." The results will not be available to the public either.
The KPU, Indonesia's elections commission, said last week that all test information would be kept confidential and candidates would be given only pass or fail grades. Supporters of the process said this is all needed to ensure the next president is physically and mentally up to the task.
Mr Siswono Yudhohusodo, vice-presidential candidate on the ticket of current top legislature MPR leader Amien Rais, said after his turn on Monday: "The country's burden is so heavy that we need leaders in their prime. I agree we need these checks."
However, critics said that the medical examinations may not be needed and would only burden the state's coffers. "As far as I know, this is very unusual," said an international consultant who has been working on the Indonesian elections. It is not unreasonable to "make sure the country's leader is in a reasonable state of health", said the elections watcher. But he quickly added: "I don't know any other country that does this, that makes its leaders go through something like this." Supporters of former president Abdurrahman Wahid say they know the reason for the tests. These are all being done just to keep him from running for the presidency, they say. Mr Abdurrahman, who has suffered two strokes and requires assistance when walking or reading, insists that he remains a candidate despite having failed the medical tests.
He was ousted from office in July 2001 due to allegations of corruption. Detractors at that time also suggested that his frail health prevented him from doing his job.
The second and last round of medical checks is scheduled for this week. During the first round in the last week of April, generals Wiranto and Bambang and Mr Abdurrahman completed the tests.
Vice-President Hamzah Haz, who is gunning for the No 1 spot in July, and Golkar No 2 candidate and Mr Abdurrahman's brother Solahuddin Wahid are to take their tests today.