Jokes to wake sleepy members

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)