Guess What? Ismail Saleh

"I have held various positions in the government, including the head of the Investment Coordinating Board, but this is the first time my name has been 'sold'," said former minister of justice Ismail Saleh.

"But because it's for Joko, I had no objection. Just don't ever do it again," Ismail told a crowd at a reception at the Shangri-La on Wednesday evening.

Fortunately, Ismail was not talking about his name being used for illegal purposes.

It turned out that Joko Soegiarto Tjandra, a founder, direct shareholder and top executive of all companies in the MULIA Group arranged a surprise party to celebrate his wife's birthday. At first Anna, his wife, refused to go out, asking instead to spend the time with the family.

"Come, it's for Pak Ismail," Joko urged Anna, who, because of Ismail, gave in.

As guest of honor, Ismail's birthday present to Anna was a speech.

"Istri (wife) is an abbreviation for remember (your) husband, keep faith," he told Anna.

Earlier, Ismail gave Joko similar advice.

"Suami (husband) is an abbreviation for always for children and wife," said Ismail.

"Your wife, not someone else's wife," he warned, to a laughing audience.

Later Ismail told The Jakarta Post that it was advice he always gave his subordinates while he was Minister of Justice.

"We work for our family, and our family is our home-base. Therefore, it should be strong," he said, very seriously.

"Home sweet home is no empty slogan because everything starts at home. We should all go back to home," he said. (lem)