President adamant he is fully in charge<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono responded to critics who claim
\nhe is indecisive by pointing to a number of prompt decisions he
\nhas made in the course of his presidency in the last 10 months.<\/p>\n
Speaking to a forum of Asian and European editors in Jakarta,
\nthe President pointed to the unpopular decision to increase fuel
\nprices in March and the rapid response to the deadly tsunami in
\nAceh in December as cases in point when he made snap or tough
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
The topic of his presidency perhaps lacking decisiveness had
\nbeen brought by one of the editors present. The forum was jointly
\norganized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation office in Singapore
\nand The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Critics of the President pointed out at the government's
\nreluctance to raise domestic fuel prices even though world oil
\nprices had, on the first morning of the forum, hit $68 a barrel
\nas the latest example of his lack of decisiveness in running the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
"I don't make decisions upon getting up from bed," he said.
\n"Sometimes I do, when I have to."<\/p>\n
But some things have to be consulted with the Cabinet, the
\nHouse of Representatives and even with the public before a
\ndecision is made, he said.<\/p>\n
It is rare for the President to address so many editors from
\nAsia and Europe, but an occasion which he readily admitted gave
\nhim with the chance to speak to a large audience from two
\ncontinents.<\/p>\n
The 40 editors taking part represent a combination of more
\nthan 10 million newspaper editions per day, with a readership
\nestimated at 30 million.<\/p>\n
The President took 12 questions during the question-and-answer
\nsession that followed his brief speech. The questions ranged from
\nhis handling of the economy and challenges in rising world oil
\nprices, to terrorism, Islam and public perception of his
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
The President had been invited to address the forum on his
\nreport card of the first 10 month of his presidency.<\/p>\n
"Well, in all honesty, I think it is you who will have to
\nwrite that report card on me," he said.<\/p>\n
"My only hope is that as you write my report card, it is good
\nenough so that you won't have to ask me to stand in the corner"
\nhe said, referring to an old practice at schools where those with
\npoor report cards were sent by the teacher to stand in the corner
\nof the classroom for hours.<\/p>",
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