Paras Indonesia, September, 19 2006 @ 10:43 pm
Tongues Wag Furiously Over Yusril's Hot Young New Wife
By: Roy Tupai
Jakarta's celebrity gossip mongers are having a field day over the news that State
Secretary/Minister Yusril Izha Mahendra (50), leader of the pro-Islamic law Crescent
Star Party (PBB) and former speechwriter to ex-dictator Suharto, has divorced his
46-year-old wife and quietly married a 23-year-old mixed Japanese-Filippina woman.
The glamorous Rika Tolentino Kato, who is 27 years younger than Yusril, converted to
Islam two weeks before their secretive wedding took place on Saturday (16/9/06) at
the Ar-Rachman Mosque at the Cooperatives Ministry complex on Jalan Rasuna Said,
South Jakarta.
Yusril, who served as justice/law minister under former presidents Abdurrahman
Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri, was the brain's behind the highly controversial
anti-pornography bill. He also tried to criminalize sorcery, sex outside of marriage,
oral sex and anal sex. Much to the annoyance of the tourism industry, he decided to
discourage tourists by charging for short-stay visas while halving their duration. Critics
say his two stints as justice minister did absolutely nothing to improve the nation's
appallingly corrupt judiciary.
PBB executive Ali Muchtar Ngabalin said Yusril had divorced his wife Kessy Sukaesih
in December 2005 and waited 10 months before marrying the new love of his life. "If he
had remained single for a long time, it would not be good for a public official because
otherwise there could be slander," he was quoted as saying by detikcom online news
portal.
He said the wedding guests included Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, Home
Affairs Mohammad Ma'ruf, and Yusril's four children. The couple's marriage reception
took place on Sunday at the Four Seasons Hotel, also on Jalan Rasuna Said. Among
those present were Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Limura and Yusril's close friends.
Members of the press were banned from both the wedding and the reception.
After his marriage, Yusril was not seen at work on Monday or Tuesday. Some officials
at the State Secretariat said their boss had apparently taken two days off work for a
honeymoon, even though he was scheduled to have attended a meeting with
parliament's Commission II on legal and domestic affairs.
A security guard at the complex confirmed that Yusril's black Toyota Camry and
black Volvo were absent from the usual premier parking spot at the front of the main
building. "The minister isn't coming to work today. I've heard he also won't be working
on Tuesday because he's out of the city. He'll be back on Wednesday," he said.
The guard, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was taken completely by
surprise when he first heard that his boss had married an attractive young woman. "I
couldn't believe it. But after seeing their photograph [in a newspaper], yes I believe it,"
he said.
"The minister's family is often here, including his [former] wife and his children. So I
just couldn't believe the minister had married again," he added.
Several officials at the complex said Yusril had not announced his marriage or sent
any wedding invitations to his subordinates. "I also didn't know about it beforehand.
I'm shocked," said an official named Eko.
Only the secretary of the State Secretariat, Rildo Ana Anwar, admitted to attending
the wedding. He denied that Yusril had taken leave for a honeymoon. He explained
the minister's absence from the hearing with legislators by saying "it was too
technical for Mr Yusril to have participated. As far as I know, he has not taken leave".
Asked about Yusril's new wife, Rildo only laughed and refused to take any more
questions.
Some fellow ministers seemed envious of Yusril for taking a new wife, but said they
would be afraid to follow his example. "Wow! I don't have the courage for that," said
Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa. He said he did not attend the wedding. "No, I
wasn't invited. Were you?" he asked reporters.
Research and Technology Minister Koesmayadi Kadiman also admitted to feeling
jealous. "The desire is there, but the courage is not there," he joked.
The marriage of Yusril and Rika set tongues wagging during the usually staid lunch
break at the national parliament building, especially among members of Commission
II, who were supposed to have met with the minister that morning. Detikcom recorded
the following conversation on Tuesday between several male and one female
legislator, all of whom who refused to be named.
"Wow! I wasn't even invited. I only found out from the newspaper. I don't know,
probably it was a secret," said one man from Commission II.
The female legislator from the same commission responded: "This is becoming a
trend, these older people like him getting someone so young. Wives of men like him
must be careful."
The man replied: "I hope Mr Yusril doesn't forget to be the same age as his wife.
That's a wife of struggle."
"Really, how different is her age from the age of his children? She's the same age as
his children," said the woman.
Another legislator, looking at a newspaper photograph of the newlyweds, chimed in:
"Mr Yusril looks really stimulated by his new wife, he's not being patient."
"He waited until after the Citizenship Law was ratified. After this marriage, Yusril
should also check out laws in the Philippines, like border matters and so forth," said
another.
Separately, Commission II deputy Sayuti Asyatri said Yusril should have found the
time to respond to parliament. "Hopefully he is very happy with this marriage. I hope
he will increase his performance and mention his achievements. I hoped he could
make a response to Commission II after his honeymoon," he said.
Commission II chair DPR Ida Fauziah played down Yusril's absence. "We had agreed
beforehand only to discuss the budget today," she said.
House of Broken Dreams
Yusril's two private residences at the lecturers' complex at the University of
Muhammadiyah Jakarta in Cirendu, Ciputat, South Jakarta, were quiet on Tuesday.
His lavish new house, located about 100 meters from his older house, is apparently
occupied by the minister's wife and their children. A security guard, Junaedi, told
reporters that only two of the children and a driver were at the house. "The lady of the
house is not at home. And Mr Yusril has not been here for a long time," he said.
One of Yusril's neighbors, who is also a member of PBB, was willing to provide more
information. He said Yusril had moved to the new house in 2003. "Every night there
used to be arguments heard between Yusril and Kessy. It was tough to fathom
Kessy's reasons [for arguing]. Some, for example, were related to clothes and
ethics," he said.
He said marriage became strained in the 1990s and the difficulties peaked in 1998
when Yusril founded PBB. "Yusril's position as chairman of PBB increased his
psychological burden. Close friends suggested that he leave Kessy and look for a new
wife," he said. The neighbor added that friends had recommended many women to
Yusril but he merely smiled at the suggestions "because he is not a typical playboy".
Cirendu neighborhood chief Sait A. said Yusril had left the lecturers' complex about
six months ago and moved to the official ministerial housing complex on Jalan Widya
Chandra, South Jakarta. He said Kessy and the children did not join in the move.
"When he still lived here, Yusril usually played sport on every holiday or on Sundays.
But he has not appeared here for a few months."
Sait revealed that some foreign residents in the housing complex used to complain
about the noisy arguments coming from Yusril's house, but peace had been restored
since the minister's departure. He added that Kessy and the children had left the
house on September 16, but he was uncertain where they had gone.
Yusril's father-in-law is apparently still living at the complex but he refused to meet
with reporters on Tuesday. About two weeks before Yusril's new marriage, his
mother-in-law passed away, but he reportedly did not attend her funeral. Sait said
Kessy's 70-year-old mother Sukarta died because of "sickness and old age".
"But Mr Yusril did not come then and only sent flowers. As far as I recall, the flowers
were sent on behalf of Mr Yusril and Yusron Law Firm," he said.
Sait said that when he asked Yusril's close friends and servants the reason for his
absence, they replied that he was unable to attend the mourning period because he
was abroad.
In preparation for his new wife, Yusril is having his house at Jalan Widya Chandra
thoroughly renovated. Five builders and three landscapers could be seen working
busily at the house on Tuesday. A new beige-colored kitchen unit with
black-and-white accessories was being installed. "The kitchen is all new. It used to be
the prayer room. Now the prayer room is located out front," said Ikno, one of the
landscapers.
He could not say whether the renovations were due to the arrival of the new wife. "The
renovations were ordered three months ago. But only this week we were ordered to
get to work," he said, adding the work should be completed within two to three days.
Many walls at the house were being replaced or repainted, while several plants were
being uprooted to make way for new flower beds. The house, which neighbors the
home affairs minister's residence, was being guarded by a police car and a police
motorcycle.
New Wife, Old Wife
Little is known of Rika. Detikcom reported that her father Katsuyoshi Kato is
Japanese, while her mother Maria Teresita Tolentino Kato is from the Philippines.
Rumors spread by mobile phone text messages said Rika is a lecturer at a
prestigious Malaysian university. Yusril received his PhD from the Malaysian Science
University's Institute of Post-Graduate Studies in 1993.
As for Kessy, despite being divorced for 10 months, she has still been attending
meetings of the civil service's Dharma Wanita women's organization this year. Dharma
Wanita officials said they had no idea that Yusril had divorced his wife because she
had continued to act as if it was business as usual.
Flaunting Wealth in the Barbershop
Scraping the barrel for gossip on Yusril, detikcom managed to track down his barber,
Emen (37), who has a shop in Gintung, Ciputat, and has been cutting the slick
Mahendra locks for 10 years.
He said that since Yusril began visiting him in 1995, he had only been accompanied
by Kessy on three occasions. Emen said Yusril last showed up in his black Volvo for
a haircut in late August. The barber said that while the normal charge for a haircut is
Rp6,000, Yusril usually paid at least Rp100,000. "Sometimes he paid as much as
Rp300,000, which the staff would split into three. Every time the fasting month came,
we always received gifts of clothing or cash," he gushed.
Emen said Yusril had been a regular customer since he was a lecturer at
Muhammadiyah University, although the frequency of his visits declined after he
moved to Jalan Widya Chandra.
He said that although the minister received "special treatment" he was still prepared
to queue for a haircut. "But sometimes we would do Mr Yusril first, even though
several other customers would be waiting. If he waited, he would routinely have a
glass of black coffee while he read the newspaper."
The barber said he also cut the hair of Yusril's youngest son Reza, who was usually
guarded by two adjutants. He said the barbershop always supported PBB over the
past two general elections. "What matters is that he gave me money. And he's a
good person."
Like Father, Like Son
Yusril's eldest son Yuri Kemal Fadlullah has been following in his father's footsteps, at
least in terms of being interested in pretty girls in their early twenties, as he is
currently dating soap opera star Nabila Syakieb, who will turn 21 in November.
Nabila, who is of Arabic descent, last year received a BMW for her birthday and
strongly denied rumors that it was a gift from Yuri, claiming he was too young to be
able to afford such a gift. She says they met over a year ago, introduced by a mutual
friend, and she was attracted to Yuri even before discovering he was the son of a
minister. She said their relationship may become more formal in a couple of years
once she has completed her university studies.
But gossip sites are already claiming Nabila is attracted to other men, such as fellow
actor Indra L. Brugman. Good grief, who cares? As long as the Mahendra family,
including the new trophy wife, will be happy to live under Islamic law.
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