Jokes to wake sleepy members

JAKARTA (JP): It is tough for Assembly members to listen to endless speeches during the plenary session especially just after lunch.

But it seems it is not just President Abdurrahman Wahid who has a habit of making jokes during an official address.

Tjetje Padmadinata of the Indonesian Nationhood faction brought a fresh atmosphere to the podium on Thursday with his light jokes and puns to help other Assembly members stay awake.

"If the leaders start to blame each other the people will start to kill each other. And if the leaders started to pinch each other the people will start to kidnap each other," he said.

He was playing with the rhyme of tuduh (blame) with bunuh (kill) and of cubit (pinch) with culik (kidnap).

Assembly speaker Amien Rais seemed reluctant to remind Tjetje not to exceed the allotted 30-minutes for his address given the cheery atmosphere he was bringing to the proceedings.

It was apparent Amien was enjoying it. When Amien did finally remind him, Tjetje quipped: "Right away, sir. I'm about to end it anyhow".

"We have to thank Pak Tjetje because he brought a serious issue in such a light manner," Amien remarked. (nvn)