Jakarta. Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was notably absent from the annual State of the Union address delivered by his successor, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, at the parliament compound on Friday, continuing a trend from previous years.

The State of the Union address, delivered during the annual joint session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), the country’s highest legislative body, is a customary event held a day before the Independence Day anniversary. Traditionally, the session invites all living former presidents and vice presidents.

Yudhoyono, popularly known as SBY, was in his hometown of Pacitan, East Java, according to his son, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono.

"Mr. SBY is in Pacitan today to commemorate the first anniversary of the SBY-Ani Museum," Edhie told reporters at the legislature building.

Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri and former vice presidents Try Soetrisno, Boediono, and Jusuf Kalla confirmed their attendance at the event, according to the House of Representatives secretariat.

Last year, SBY was also absent from the State of the Union address, as he was in Pacitan for the launch of the museum named after himself and his late wife, Ani Yudhoyono.

The year before that, SBY was in Malaysia when President Jokowi delivered his speech before the parliament.

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