A wind of change?

The wind of change has struggled in Indonesia for some time, but now there seems to be a real hope that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will usher in the required gust to blow away the bad habits of the past. This kind of optimism did not prevail when Megawati Soekarnoputri came to power, nor did it exist during the Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's tenure.

So, suddenly, we can sit back and let the new man begin his term with, I think, renewed confidence that he can and will effect the changes that have been talked about ever since Soeharto stepped down.

It is not as if Susilo doesn't know what to do, or where the emphasis must be -- it is simply a case of commitment, team/nation building and a genuine desire to make this country and its people proud to be a part of the success.

Not an easy task, especially with the many sharp knives out there to defend the old ways in a country that has been allowed to drift towards disgrace, despair and national disintegration. The country is far too resilient for that, and so despite the many hiccups, it has every chance to bounce back and prove all the cynics wrong.

But have we heard it all before, and will it be another flash in the pan that will eventually see the dilution of commitment and the "one step forward, two steps backward" syndrome? People will want to see almost immediate results, which are possible and also necessary.

What is the use of power if you cannot use it to the fullest, and what is the point in making promises to an attentive and informative electorate if you fail to honor trust and responsibility?

The newly appointed ministers not only carry the Susilo seal of approval, but also the weight of a nation that will be watching its progress very closely. There is a real sense of optimism almost everywhere, which stems from years of frustration dished out by previous inept administrations.

This wind of change is long overdue and offers Susilo a golden opportunity to go down in history as the man who kept his word.

Now wouldn't that be a nice change?

DAVID WALLIS Medan, North Sumatra