As I wrote here [1], Indonesian Housing Minister Yusuf Asy'ari [2] becomes the second Minister to start blogging after Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono went blogging [3] a few months back. His blog post is written bilingually in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
Harry Sufehmi [4], one of Indonesian blogger, is fortunate enough to be invited by the Minister to his office for “consultation” on anything to do with blogging world.
Harry utilises the rare opportunity–imagine, a blogger in a Ministerial office for blogtalk!–to also sort of interview the Housing Minister about the motivation behind his interest to blog. For example whether the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) [5] himself who ask the Minister to blog. In which he said: No. The President only asked his ministers to be more close to their people, to be more care to and interact with them and to know directly their grievances. And blogging is how Mr. Asy'ari thinks as one step to that direction.
Harry Sufehmi [4] who had been in England and worked for e-Government project of Birmingham Municipality [6] during his stay there also advised the Minister to make use of blog as an interactive tool between the ministry office and the people.
The Indonesian blogger-Minister meeting has got much warm welcome comment from other bloggers; congratulating Harry and appreciating the down-to-earth Minister.
Mourning Week
The sudden death of Bunda Zidan [7] (mother of Zidan) known more as Inong, a mother of two kids, aged 32, has sparked an overwhelmed condolences from Indonesian bloggers. Inong who stays in Singapore with her husband and two kids was among the darling of Indonesian bloggers. She's nice, friendly, energetic and humble and that's why many bloggers feel so attached to her even those who never met her personally. See one post from one of her closest friend which I quoted here. [8]
From Technorati [9], I found out there are 1,053 posts dedicated to her till date alone. And mind you it's still counting. Just confirming how lovable woman, mother and friend she was. May the Almighty God gives her soul an everlasting peace in Heaven. Amen.