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fter resigning as trade minister, Gita Wirjawan has been stealing some headlines. He, with his passion for music, attracts media attention.

Recently, Gita announced on his Twitter account, @GWirjawan, that he would be performing with Indonesian Idol winner, Joy Tobing, at the Java Jazz Festival. Gita and Joy had apparently worked together before.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had asked Gita, who was then the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chief, to arrange his song '€œTogether We Can Rise'€ for the 2011 SEA Games, which Joy was asked to sing. Joy said that she saw Gita as a musician, not as a politician.

After performing together at the festival, Gita'€™s media team tweeted his performance with Joy, and later got a reply from @ipoelamri that said, '€œlooks like someone [we know] before [ he became president] singing at shows. But after getting elected, instead of working, [he] makes albums.'€ His media team replied, '€œBut GW [Gita Wirjawan] has a clean track record. That'€™s the difference.'€

Gita'€™s participation at the festival was supposed shed good light on him and the Democratic Party (PD). However, the tweet made the current President, who is also PD chairman, look bad.

Another not so good moment for Gita at the festival was when Peter Gontha presented an award to him while the audience grew impatient, as they had been waiting for the start of singer Jamie Cullum'€™s performance. It turns out that Gita was an event sponsor. The award presentation was short but did not happen at the right time.

Gita might have the talent, but wrong tweet and wrong timing. Back when the Cabinet was being reshuffled, Gita was asked about his possibility of becoming trade minister. He answered, '€œI would rather be a street singer,'€ as quoted by kompas.com.

Well, the '€œstreet singer'€ is now a presidential candidate.

Jessica
Jakarta