Oake first interview Susilo since tsunami<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's interview on CNBC was his
\nfirst international TV interview since the Dec. 26 tsunami
\ndisaster. It was featured as part of CNBC's occasional interview
\nprogram, The CNBC Conversation.<\/p>\n
The interview, by anchor Lisa Oake, covered various topics,
\nwhich included the tsunami disaster, security issues in Jakarta
\nand the urgent need to boost the economy. It was aired on CNBC
\nnetworks across the Asia-Pacific region on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30,
\nwith a follow-up a week later.<\/p>\n
Oake gave candid replies to a number of questions after the
\ninterview:<\/p>\n
Question:What are your impressions of Indonesia and its
\npeople?<\/p>\n
Oake: Indonesia has always been one of my favorite places. The
\npeople are smart and friendly, the food is amazing. I come from a
\nvery small town in Canada and the sense of camaraderie in
\nIndonesia makes me feel very at home.<\/p>\n
Please tell us a little about your career<\/p>\n
I have been working with CNBC Asia for seven years. I am
\ncurrently a stockwatcher reporting live from the Singapore stock
\nexchange. Before moving to Singapore I worked as a reporter for
\nNTV News in my home province, Newfoundland, Canada.<\/p>\n
I also worked as a radio announcer with OZ FM radio (also in
\nNewfoundland, Canada) for several years while I was in
\nuniversity.<\/p>\n
What are your impressions of the Indonesian economy from a
\nbusiness journalist's perspective?<\/p>\n
I think Indonesia is one of the most exciting places in Asia
\nright now. The Megawati administration can be credited with
\nstabilizing the economy. The Susilo government seems intent on
\ntaking things to the next level.<\/p>\n
It's obviously not an easy task but watching it unfold will be
\nfascinating. As a business journalist, I think Indonesia needs to
\nbuild confidence that business can be done in an efficient and
\ntrustworthy way. That trust will unleash investment and get the
\neconomy moving again.<\/p>\n
Please tell us about your personal life and interests.<\/p>\n
My family keeps me very busy. My husband, Keith, is a high
\nschool teacher. We have two small boys. Evan is four-and-a-half
\nyears old and Logan is one year old. I'm surrounded by boys!<\/p>\n
We love doing family-oriented things with the kids: amusement
\nparks, swimming, barbecues. My favorite stress-buster is running:
\nI love hitting the road with my I-pod mini.<\/p>\n
what was it like to be part of the first international TV
\nnetwork to land an interview with the President since the
\ntsunami?<\/p>\n
We are very appreciative that the President took the time to
\ntalk to CNBC Asia. The interview took place just as Susilo was
\nfinishing his first 100 days in office -- a busy time for him. It
\nwas a privilege to sit down face-to-face with the leader of the
\ncountry and discuss issues that affect millions of people.<\/p>\n
He was very candid. The interview presented on The CNBC
\nConversation was quoted in news publications around the world.
\nThe world is very interested in Indonesia right now.<\/p>\n
What was your impression of the President and the highlights
\nof the interview?<\/p>\n
What impressed me the most about the President was his warmth.<\/p>\n
Sometimes people fall into the trap of thinking you have to be
\nhard as nails to be considered decisive or successful. Susilo is
\na genuine person who makes a sincere connection with the people
\naround him. That is a real gift.<\/p>\n
The highlights of the conversation would have to be hearing
\nhim describe his reaction when he saw the devastation in Aceh
\nafter the tsunami.<\/p>\n
He cares about the people affected by the disaster, and it
\nshows. That concern speaks volumes about him as a person. It was
\nalso enlightening to hear his plans for dealing with the economic
\nchallenges Indonesia is facing.<\/p>\n
What were your general impressions from other interviews
\nconducted in Indonesia?<\/p>\n
Our goal was to assess feelings in Indonesia, from the
\nhighest levels of government to the poor and the homeless.<\/p>\n
We walked away from that week in Jakarta with a sense that
\nIndonesia is a country about to change.<\/p>\n
The President seems serious about affecting change in the
\ncountry and people are sitting up and taking notice.<\/p>\n
Economists are optimistic the government's economic goals are
\nattainable. Corruption is under fire. Market analysts think
\nstocks will continue to gain.<\/p>\n
I did get the feeling cutting fuel subsidies will be a
\ntroublesome issue for the government as it has been for previous
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
We took our cameras into squatter areas in Jakarta to ask the
\npoor how they felt about it. The sense of opposition is very
\nstrong. Most of the families in that area make only Rp 300,000 a
\nmonth per household. They say they don't know how they will
\nsurvive if fuel prices go up.<\/p>\n
What lasting impression stuck in your memory?<\/p>\n
The most poignant scene we saw while in Indonesia was of a
\npoor boy wearing a T-shirt with the image of Susilo and Jusuf
\nKalla on the front. He was not even wearing shoes but he looked
\nso hopeful his life was about to change. --JP<\/p>",
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