Robert Go, Jakarta – Wearing a blue, body-hugging dress, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri began her first full-scale briefing to journalists in her three years in charge of the country by nervously wringing her hands and flashing shy smiles.

The event, as her advisers admitted, was a big step for the woman whom observers labelled as the "mute president". In contrast to Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, her predecessor who often gave off-the-cuff comments, Ms Megawati has rarely gone off the script.

Her speech, delivered in clipped tones though she was using the Indonesian language, defended her time in office and outlined a programme for a possible second term.

There were glances to her right, where Mr Hasyim Muzadi, her running mate, sat smilingly. Mr Hasyim looked more comfortable in front of the cameras and microphones, and appeared to will some encouragement Ms Megawati's way during pauses that seemed too long and silences that sounded too loud.

Both tried to crack jokes, but the defensiveness came through, especially on questions about the government's track record in fighting corruption or helping the poor. Ms Megawati appeared cross or offended at times, and at one point cut off a foreign reporter's question on corruption.

Another journalist's query got mistaken for a comment and Ms Megawati scoffed: "It must be easy for journalists to criticise." Her inexperience and discomfort clearly showed, but the hope was clearly for her to improve each time she does this in the future. Mr Rizal Mallarangeng, one of the President's confidants, told foreign reporters before the start: "Just go easy on her to start with. There will be many more of this."

The event was held on the front yard of her private residence instead of the palace or a hotel ballroom, perhaps to add a personal touch and impart a better sense of who Ms Megawati is. Her husband, prominent businessman Taufik Kiemas, was conspicuously absent.

Observers have noted that his presence during the campaigning for the April 5 parliamentary election and his perceived role in Ms Megawati's political decision-making may have hurt her. Critics also said that his association with the country's richest 1 per cent was not the right image Ms Megawati should project as she woos the country's poor.

Yesterday, he stayed in the house as she spoke outside. Only after the cameras were turned off did he surface, staying for a few minutes as he greeted some friends. An observer who was present said: "For a first time, and for Megawati who rarely goes to the public like that, it wasn't a bad performance. Maybe she will get better as she does more such briefings."