Stroke spurs Muslim leader to write more

HE WORKS 17 HOURS A DAY

IN ANOTHER life, Islamic scholar Abdurrahman Wahid might have been a journalist. Despite being hit by a stroke recently, the leader of the country’s largest Muslim organisation, Nadhlatul Ulama, has been writing with increasing frequency.

“There are too many things happening in my country,” he told The Sunday Times.

“My illness has not been a handicap. In fact, I feel the urge to write more because I feel restless confined at home. I work 17 hours a day.

He writes for seven local publications and averages about 15 articles a month, covering topics such as Islam, politics and the military.

It takes him two to three hours to write a 1,500-word feature.

He also helped set up a daily, Duta Masyarakat Baru, where he is the chief editor.