Yusril takes critics head on, changes to WordPress

November 19, 2007

Former State Secretary Yusril Izha Mahendra, who has been converted into a blogger recently, is embracing his new role with gusto. He’s waded into Indonesia Matters to answer his critics’s allegations about his life and policies when in the Cabinet. Those of you who relish a good argument can go there to watch the “conversation” unfold, blow for blow. Unspun feels for Yusril though since many of his critics are hiding behind a veil of anonymity, which can sometimes free them from the constraints of good manners and honest argument.

On the home front, Yusril’s also completed his makeover. He’s moved to WordPress, a better blogging platform that Blogspot. He’s also changed the header of his blog to photos of him starring in the movie Cheng Ho.

unspun

blogging, Indonesia

blogging

12 responses to “Yusril takes critics head on, changes to WordPress”

Vavai

November 19, 2007 at 9:09 am

Unspun,

The picture will be randomly changes. Not only the Cheng Ho photos 😀

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unspun

November 19, 2007 at 9:15 am

@Vavai: Foto Vavai dan geng bloggers dengan Yusril adakah?

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Thomas Arie

November 19, 2007 at 9:25 pm

Dear Unspun,

Personally, it’s a good thing. At least, there are some counter arguments. I am sure Pak Yusril will use his blog as a place to share his opinion, and answering some rumours.

At least, he starts blogging. 🙂

About the picture, there are only two pictures in stocks. But, more to come… What about having Pak Yusril and his Harley Davidson like Ali Topan Anak Jalanan? Hehehe…

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Junarto Imam Prakoso

November 19, 2007 at 9:50 pm

Mr Yusril finally found his world. Politics is not his place. I cannot imagine him as a president. He is a thinker. He’d better utilize it for sharing his ideas to people.

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cokk

November 21, 2007 at 2:37 pm

hey, I am not a blogger (yet) may be someday. But i have been watching (read) those big Guys writing. We have Juwono (if i wasn;t wrong), Kwik, he is good and very citics about our economy development, and also Yusril (younger) brother Yusron already has his own blog.

It’s a good sign. As we can talk to those Guys in person. You know. people like them, i guess never have experience having no money to eat. Maybe they are only forget being the poor. We can tell ’em reality, not only facts. And have a dream that Indonesia changes good.

Impose having hope doesnt have tobe bought!

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Oigal

November 22, 2007 at 8:42 am

“Unspun feels for Yusril though since many of his critics are hiding behind a veil of anonymity, which can sometimes free them from the constraints of good manners and honest argument.”

Not as tacky as threatening someone with black-listing and Gaol, personally I didn’t think he did real well at all, in fact come off looking very foolish

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unspun

November 22, 2007 at 8:58 am

@Oigal: begin to think you are right. I’d favor people using their real identities but iat the same time Yusril should be more skilled in his replies. As it is he is showing that beneath the intellectualism he can come across as petty and vindictive.

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Oigal

November 22, 2007 at 4:06 pm

Unspun, I still think you are being way too generous, intellectualism ? Seriously, I would have expected someone in his position and with resources he has at his disposal to deal with most of the comments with ease. Did you read his response on VISA’s, shallow inane codswallop, if that was the true amount of thought put into the VISA’s on Arrival is a daming reflection on the government and the qaulity of people therein.

Even the obnoxious Achmad can (on blue moon days) at least present facts or a position that whilst you may disagree at least requires some acknowledgment of a modicum of intellectual rigor. Yusril provided a very good reason why people choose not use real names.

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Bonar

November 23, 2007 at 8:33 pm

@oigal:

i think its merely becoz of his admitedly lack of english writing/reading skill, he misunderstood some if not most of the standing issues. Native english speaker might find it unacceptable, but as an indonesian miself, i can understand his problem.

Regarding to VOA controversy, i dont think his/his department’s intention was bad. Its a common case of “Law of Unintended Consequences”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences

I dont think Yusril is a liberal, he can be so narrow sometimes. But not being a liberal doesnt mean he doesnt have intellectualism.

As for Achmad, i guess by now we all know hes not what he said. Hes a borat-like intellectual whose sarcastic comments can sound so sincere.

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Oigal

November 25, 2007 at 5:42 pm

At best perhaps..but a major disappointment as Unspun rightly says he came across as petty and vindictive.

VOA controversy, was not this a great time to explain the intentions? Instead readers got some inane garbage and threats.

As for Achmad..yep thats about all that can be said

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Bonar

November 25, 2007 at 8:32 pm

“..but a major disappointment as Unspun rightly says he came across as petty and vindictive”

I agree, but i wasnt really surprised. It was consistent to his past stances. Before that, I almost had a countdown timer to the time he snapped in the blogosphere. 🙂 j/k

“was not this a great time to explain the intentions? ”

well, he was provoked, by the comments, and by the whole site perhaps, as i said, hes not a liberal.

But i guess by now hes learned something.

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Achmad Sudarsono

November 26, 2007 at 5:37 pm

Dear All, Didn’t I say Yusril was a nasty piece of work ?

Bonar, Oigal: shame on you for thinking I’m not what I say I am.

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