Amien Rais' new book offers humor

Amien Rais' new book offers humor

JAKARTA: A compilation of anecdotes and witticisms from
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais was
launched on Thursday.

Guru Salimin (Teacher Salimin) features 60 stories of Amien, a
presidential aspirant of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Salimin was the religion teacher at Amien's elementary school
in the Central Java town of Surakarta.

Abdillah Toha, publisher of the book and a PAN deputy
chairman, said a compilation of anecdotes from a national leader
would always draw interest.

Another political figure widely known for his jokes is former
president Abdurrahman Wahid, who also published a compilation of
anecdotes.

Muslim scholar Muslim Abdurrahman commented that the book
proved Amien was far more human than he had been in the past, and
said Amien was a leader who managed to blend seriousness with his
ability to crack a joke.

It is the seventh book about Amien written by Muhammad Najib.
-- JP