Look who's talking

JAKARTA (JP): Never believe the words of a stranger, wise men say.

Apparently impressed by his commentary on the narrow defeat of then president B.J. Habibie's accountability speech, a television journalist interviewed a man who claimed to be a political analyst.

"It's likely that Golkar will stick to its presidential candidate because of the close margin (of defeat of the accountability speech)," the talkative man, who looked neat in his coat and tie, began his analysis.

The man was speaking in front of a room in the People's Consultative Assembly where Golkar Party leaders were holding a closed-door meeting to discuss Habibie's fate at dawn on Tuesday.

The journalist raised his eyebrows when the man then announced Golkar might also change its mind and select a new candidate.

"So what is it going to be," the journalist asked. His question was left unanswered as the "political analyst" walked away.

The answer came only after a security guard told the journalist that the man had a mental problem. (amd)