Amien Rais goes to the web

JAKARTA: People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais is sick of having his words twisted, so he is going direct to the web.

"As a public figure I often felt that my press interviews were to a great extent sometimes distorted by our journalists," Amien said Tuesday at the launch of www.e-amienrais.com.

"Sometimes I even squeeze their hands, saying please don't make up your own sentences, don't make any additional comments - then the next morning I read the report is not exactly what I said," he said.

"Sometimes I get mad if some of my friends who happen to be journalists misinform the public or distort my interviews. By having this website I can clarify in my own words, on my own terms."

Amien said he realized the vast majority of Indonesians did not have access to the Internet.

"Of course we are fully aware that the use of the Internet is still limited to the middle class and upper class because the majority of the people still don't have personal computers in their houses," he said.

"But even if we have a limited outreach, it's still very beneficial to us. We'll find another method to reach the other sectors of society." --JP