“Apa Kabar?” says Obama in Bahasa

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 01/23/2009 5:22 PM  

US President Barack Obama responded in fluent Bahasa Indonesia after being promoted in the language in a question from State Department employee in an informal talk after the swearing in of Hillary Clinton as the 67th Secretary of State on Thursday. 

A letter sent by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Friday states that, after making his formal remarks at the event, President Obama mingled with U.S. diplomats, shaking hands and chatting casually. 

It was then that Charles Silver -- former Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy Jakarta -- addressed him in bahasa Indonesia, saying “Selamat Siang, Bapak.”  Without missing a beat, President Obama responded, “Terima kasih -- Apa kabar?” 

Silver responded “Baik, baik” and then told the President he had served in Indonesia several times and Obama complimented him on his accent.  The President then said that if he visits Indonesia he would like to visit his old neighborhood in Menteng. 

Previously Obama joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in announcing former Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy to the Middle East and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan — moves that underscore the new administration’s commitment to renewing America’s leadership through reinvigorated diplomacy. 

“We are confronted by extraordinary, complex and interconnected global challenges,” Obama said to State Department employees. 

“Progress will not come quickly or easily, nor can we promise to right every single wrong around the world. But we can pledge to use all elements of American power to protect our people and to promote our interests and ideals, starting with principled, focused and sustained American diplomacy.” (and)