Gus Dur's irreverent style

Speaking at the House of Representatives, Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid) managed to give a lighthearted touch to some serious problems. Gus Dur has managed to turn usually boring presidential speeches into eagerly awaited events. The language he uses is far removed from the rigid and formal language of textbooks. Gus Dur speaks in the same everyday language that ordinary people speak, using even expletives to underscore his opinion on certain points.

It is true that in certain instances Gus Dur needs to watch how he expresses himself, to keep his joking remarks within the bounds of acceptable proportions. An interesting and positive aspect of Gus Dur's style, however, is that it helps to further desacralize the office of the presidency -- a process that was already begun by B.J. Habibie. Gus Dur has turned the palace from a sacrosanct royal abode that is off limits to ordinary citizens into a house of the people.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta