Gus Dur's irreverent style

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