INDONESIA: Building Awareness Against Bird Flu

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

JAKARTA, Sep 25 (IPS) - On a recent evening, Muhammad Farhan worked the crowd in an up-market café with the banter that has earned him fame as one of Indonesia's popular talk show hosts. A new book by a local author-- In Bed with Models'-- set the tone for this off-the-air performance.

Hours later, his engaging style of delivery was on display for a wider audience at his regular late-night talk show, ‘OM Farhan', broadcast on the StarAN TV network. ‘'I deal with topical issues, gossip about film stars, and even serious subjects, like the recent earthquake,'' the 36-year-old said over a meal at a restaurant in the Indonesian capital. ‘'I love to perform, do comedy sketches, talk and entertain.''

More than entertainment this Jakarta resident lends his talent for public causes, raising awareness on the dangers of the killer bird flu virus that is stalking Indonesia.

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