Susilo's great opportunity<\/p>\n
Congratulations are in order to president-elect, Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono. On Oct. 4, he was finally confirmed as the
\noverwhelming victor in Indonesia's first direct elections for the
\npost.<\/p>\n
Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri indirectly conceded
\ndefeat on Oct. 5, tearfully calling on Indonesians to accept the
\nelection result, although without explicitly acknowledging she
\nhad lost. That opens the path for the former security minister to
\nbegin the task of forming a new government, ahead of his
\ninauguration on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
It's a crucial task which will offer the first indication of
\nhow ready Indonesia's first popularly elected president is to
\nbreak with the backroom politics of the past. He is in a position
\nto use his overwhelming mandate to step up the fight against
\nterrorism while also pushing through other much-needed changes,
\nfrom combating corruption to overhauling labor laws.<\/p>\n
Some early indications are encouraging. Susilo wants to
\nconduct formal interviews with the candidates for key portfolios
\nand require appointees to sign a contract spelling out their
\ncommitment to their duties. He's also pledged that the new
\ncabinet will include more technocrats, chosen for their expertise
\nrather than their political affiliation -- which has been the
\nmain criteria for appointment until now.<\/p>\n
Among the most closely watched appointments will be his
\nchoices of a new attorney general and a minister for justice.
\nIndonesian and foreign observers-alike will be hoping to see the
\nappointment of strong-willed individuals who will initiate the
\nsweeping reforms that are needed to overhaul a legal system
\nplagued by widespread corruption and often inexplicable court
\nverdicts.<\/p>\n
Equally important will be whether the new president appoints a
\nteam of reformist-minded economic ministers, capable of
\noverhauling labor laws and other restrictive regulations that
\nhave done so much to discourage foreign investment. But foreign
\ninvestors are not going to return in any large numbers for as
\nlong as they fear being blown up in the heart of Jakarta -- a
\nrisk highlighted by the bomb that exploded outside the Australian
\nembassy during the election campaign, killing 10 people.<\/p>\n
So we'll also be watching for any sign the new president will
\nintensify the fight against Indonesia's Islamic extremists by
\nformally outlawing Jamaah Islamiyah, the al-Qaeda affiliate
\nbelieved responsible for this and other attacks, and closing the
\nhandful of Muslim boarding schools where it recruits suicide
\nbombers.<\/p>\n
Susilo showed little enthusiasm for such measures when he
\nserved as Megawati's security minister, prior to his resignation
\nin March. We hope the overwhelming popular mandate he has
\nreceived since then, which gives Susilo an authority his
\npredecessor lacked, has changed his mind. But his cabinet lineup
\nwill be a crucial indicator of whether such hopes are warranted.<\/p>\n
While his need for political leverage in parliament is
\nunderstandable it can be hoped that his cabinet will be made up
\nof ministers of proven ability, aside from party affiliation. He
\nwill need an able cabinet if he is to take a strong stance on a
\nwide range of issues -- particularly fighting terrorism and
\ncorruption -- that are likely to prove highly controversial in
\nsome political circles. At worst, the new president could be
\ndragged down the path of trading cabinet posts for political
\nsupport that discredited Megawati's administration in the eyes of
\nthe Indonesian public.<\/p>\n
Susiloo was elected because the voters were fed up with
\npolitical horse trading. His constituents are the Indonesian
\npublic, not a parliament that enjoys far less popular support. By
\nfar the best strategy would be to ignore the clamor from
\npoliticians bent on preserving their privileges, and stick to
\nappointing talented individuals untainted by involvement in
\nprevious administrations. Only then will we able to congratulate
\nhim on ending the country's backroom politics and having a real
\nchance of pushing through the sweeping refort as that Indonesia
\nso desperately needs.
\n-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilos-great-opportunity-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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