It happened when newsmen were waiting to ask questions to ministers who were heading to a limited cabinet meeting on the revised 2012 budget.
Some ministers passed the reporters, with their adjutants carrying documents and even a suit of clothes. Some ministers were willing to answer the newsmen's questions while standing or while walking.
Dahlan later arrived and, unlike others, he came by himself without any adjutant, wearing a casual shirt with sleeves rolled up and black sneakers, which are his trademark.
When newsmen began asking questions, he did not immediately answer them. To the surprise of the reporters, he suddenly sat on the floor with them, causing the reporters to applaud.
When asked why he did that, Dahlan said "because you were sitting on the floor. If you stood up, I would also stand up."
Indeed, reporters usually sit when interviewing officials, to make way for television cameramen to take pictures.
Answering a reporter's question about a reshuffle among the board of directors of state-owned oil company Pertamina, Dahlan said it had not occurred suddenly as the process for the changes had gone for two months.
Dahlan has expressed the need for creating dream teams at state-owned companies to advance these enterprises.
The minister recently broke open a toll gate and let cars pass without paying in his effort to speed up a queue at the gate. He also threw chairs from some of the booths after finding no officers present.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
