Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia's sixth president and avid Twitter user, launched a book featuring a compilation of his tweets on the popular social media platform on Sunday morning in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

The 350 page book, entitled “Twitter SBY", presents tweets made by Yudhoyono since 2013, when he was still in office.

He said the book was a compilation of his communication with the people, beginning from when he was still president.

“I joined social media so that I could talk directly. Otherwise, my statements could be twisted and incompletely presented,” said the chairman of the Democratic Party in his opening speech.

Joined by his wife Ani Yudhoyono and his eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the family came to Mataram to attend the Democratic Party’s National Meeting that will be held on Monday.

The former president and his party cadre also signed a joint anti-hoax declaration to raise awareness against fake news and misinformation.

“Everyone must fight fake news. My family and myself often become victims of hoaxes and slanders,” he said.

After joining Twitter in 2013, Yudhoyono has tweeted more than 4,500 times and garnered 9.7 million followers, exceeding President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Twitter following of 7.3 million.

After stepping down from the presidency, Yudhoyono has made headlines on several occasions due to his infamous tweets, which range from defending himself against so-called libel up to his lashings out at the government. (rin)

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