Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Roman Emperor Nero, who ruled the empire from 54 to 68 AD, was notoriously accused of playing the fiddle while Rome was engulfed in flames.
While it may be an exaggeration to say this story is synonymous with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's infatuation with trivia, amid the country's piling problems, some comparisons can be made.
Yudhoyono's tight schedule seems to be loosened when it comes to reviewing books that glorify his leadership or composing songs that heighten his image as the President who cares about the arts and musical development.
On the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Cannes, France, Yudhoyono managed to squeeze in the launch of the French language edition of his former spokesman Dino Patti Djalal's book entitled The Can Do Leadership; Inspiring Stories from the SBY Presidency.
Dino, now Indonesian ambassador to the United States, said the book was a study of SBY's leadership style, with the President setting examples on how to rediscover the Indonesian way of leadership.
While Yudhoyono was in France, a group of musicians launched, on Monday, Yudhoyono's fourth album entitled Harmoni, (Harmony) with the single Kembali, (Come Back) expected to become a hit.
Kembali is basically the lament of a desperate man seeking love. The song was first sung by celebrated singer Afgan.
Besides Harmoni, Yudhoyono has released three other albums since taking office in 2004, namely Rinduku Padamu in 2006, Majulah Negeriku (Go Forth My Country) in 2007 and Evolusi (Evolution) in 2009.
All the songs in the albums were composed by Yudhoyono, a retired Army general, himself.
His latest single Bersatu dan Maju (Uniting and Progressing) will be the official song for the opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.
The song was composed by Yudhoyono on Sept. 17 at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, amid spiraling sectarian conflict in Ambon, Maluku, alleged graft cases implicating Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar and ongoing complications in infrastructure construction for the SEA Games venues.
Bersatu dan Maju is slated to be sung by the first Indonesian Idol star Joy Tobing, while Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan has been tasked with the musical arrangement.
"I've spent several days doing the arrangements on this important song. It will roll out soon," said Gita, refusing to comment on whether the work had interfered with his ministerial duties.
Communications expert Ade Armando of the University of Indonesia said the President had made a fatal strategic error in his public relations approach.
"This is what we refer to as the politics of image with the expectation that Yudhoyono will be remembered as the Singing General and a president who loved art and wanted to be close to his people," Ade said.
"Yudhoyono's communication strategy is totally wrong and will only lead to him becoming a figure of ridicule among his political rivals."
Legislator Hendrawan Supratikno, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said Yudhoyono's albums and books were evidence that he was infatuated with trivia rather than with more serious and protracted problems such as corruption and poverty.
Yudhoyono's men, however, are quick to respond to the critics. Democratic Party legislator Ruhut Sitompul said the public should be proud to have a president who could write poems, books and compose songs.
"When you listen to Yudhoyono's songs, you hear a quality which indicates they are not intended to be sung by ordinary singers. Only a truly devoted singer can perform them," Ruhut said.