No Regrets: Reflections of a Presidential Spokesman [Mass Market Paperback]

Wimar Witoelar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2002

"Gus Dur, you need some help. You are facing political sabotage and a hostile media. You need some kind of spokesman to explain and clarify your views so ordinary Indonesians can understand. You need someone like Wimar Witoelar." "No," Gus Dur replied, "I don t need someone like Wimar Witoelar. I need Wimar Witoelar." With those words, well-known media personality Wimar Witoelar found himself in the line of fire for a tumultuous ten months as Gus Dur's Chief Presidential Spokesman. Now, after the dust has settled, Wimar is able to say all the things he always wanted to but couldn't. He pointedly answers his critics and tells the story of what really happened behind-the-scenes during the final months of Indonesia s first democratically-elected leader. Filled with fascinating insights and revelations, NO REGRETS is a candid and witty exposé on the inner workings of the cut-throat political life of post-Soeharto Indonesia. Be prepared to have your opinions and views of Gus Dur's presidency-and also of contemporary Indonesian politics-dramatically altered by the person who saw it all: Indonesia's one-of-a kind Wimar Witoelar.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"NO REGRETS portrays Indonesian politics in a manner rarely done before" -- Singapore TODAY, March 15, 2002

"NO REGRETS fills a void in this country's needs, but does so in an honest, readable and entertaining way" -- The Jakarta Post, March 24, 2002

"NO REGRETS gives fascinating background to new readers on Indonesia" -- South China Morning Post, March 23, 2002

About the Author

After brief government duty as Presidential Spokesman for President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia, Wimar Witoelar is back in the private sector with his consulting firm InterMatrix (founded 1986) which now emphasizes public relations and communications and Indonesian Business, an English language business magazine which He co-founded in 1997. Activities in the 'Perspektif' line include a 200-station radio syndicated and 10-newspaper syndicated weekly interview, a popular weekly radio talk show on Jakarta's M97 FM, a lighthearted column on public affairs perspectives in Indonesia's leading news portal detik.com and staging of public events. Wimar also is a columnist in lifestyle magazine DJAKARTA!

Wimar and InterMatrix are back to hosting and producing talk shows on television and radio and providing columns and interviews for print media. He appears frequently on international television and radio(ABC, SBS, Nine Network, BBC, CNN, CNBC, NBC, European channels) as commentator. Hosted TV show on Australia's Sunday Show (Nine Network) and written column for Newsweek. Frequently consulted by publications such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, The Straits Times.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Equinox Publishing; 1st edition (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9799589843
• ISBN-13: 978-9799589842
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,335,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A highly recommended book and no regrets it is ......, January 31, 2004

By 

Neo "temmytanubrata" (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Regrets: Reflections of a Presidential Spokesman (Mass Market Paperback)

This book brings a great insight on the events during the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid, widely known as Gus Dur.
The events are outlined in fair details for public consumption to the best extent possible and this was made possible through this book and in the capacity as the Chief presidential spokesman of Wimar Witoelar, the author.

Wimar shares many of his personal beliefs and principles related to the unfolding events throughout the chapters. The tracking of events do provide an excellent balance of the issues that most Indonesians would hear on single-sided basis through the press. Many of the aspects of his opinions and beliefs are shared by specific group of his fellow countrymen who share the strong belief and hope of good performing, people oriented and transparent governance and contributed to the advancement of those beliefs and hopes through their professional lives.

Despite of my late purchase given the release date of the book, I do enjoy the writing styles and overall presentation, as I have always enjoyed Wimar's writing skills. I would recommend the book and would like to iterate the reader-to-be to engage in a wonderful experience that takes you to the situation behind the magnificent gesture of the Presidential Palace. A place which I would not think nor plan to enter as an ordinary Indonesian, but a place which resembles my great respect and honor to my own country having known that the 2 respectable 'Orang Biasa', Wimar and Gus Dur, who are extraordinary have served there.

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment of unrealised potential..., April 13, 2006

By 

Bettina McQ (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Regrets: Reflections of a Presidential Spokesman (Mass Market Paperback)

I was so disappointed by this book. It could have given great insight as to President Abdurrahman Wahid's short rule, but instead Witoelar constructs a log of oh-my-gosh, gob-smacked, name-dropping of all the celebrities and politico's he gets to meet in the company of the President. I learned a lot more reading Greg Barton's biography of Wahid. For anyone seriously interested in Indonesia and that time, I'd highly recommend that book instead of this one.