He’s really smiling now

INDONESIA: Indonesia’s new army chief has said that his predecessor Raden Hartono (above), who is the new Information Minister, learned to smile as he moved up the ranks in the armed forces.

General Wiranto, who became army chief last week, was speaking at a farewell ceremony for the 56-year-old Gen Hartono.

He said they first met 10 years ago when Gen Hartono was East Java military commander. “He had a very stern and serious look on his face,” said Gen Wiranto, who was then a lieutenant-colonel.

“I tried smiling at him on a number of occasions but he never returned the gesture. But over the years, as he rose up to become army chief, I noticed a growing smile on his face.”

“Now he is laughing as Information Minister.”