'Bank loan scheme for SMEs a hoax'

'Bank loan scheme for SMEs a hoax'

For the first time in history, Indonesia has its first president
who was directly elected by the people. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and Jusuf Kalla, or more popularly known as SBY and JK, took
oaths of office on Wednesday as the country's new president and
vice president. Hopes are high that the pair can make a
difference and bring about a better future. The Jakarta Post
talked to city residents about their hopes for the new president.

Djohar Arifin Husein, the National Sports Council (KONI)
secretary-general:

I hope the planned establishment of the State Minister of
Sports Office will lead to the immediate endorsement of the
Sports Bill. The bill, which aims to facilitate the development
of national sports, is still waiting for the government's
approval so the House can finalize it.

Hopefully, the presence of the state minister's office would
expedite this process.

Right now it's difficult to set up sports development programs
since everything, including the paperwork, takes a long time
before it is followed up.

Most of our development programs have been instituted in a
sporadic fashion without any guidance at all.

There is no need to fear the overlapping roles of KONI and the
state minister's office. They would support each other well.

Leonardus Teddy Lukmansyah, is a vendor selling peanut
porridge in Pancoran Glodok, Central Jakarta:

I have run this business since 1971 which I inherited from my
father, who started the business in 1943. This business has the
potential to be big, because we are the only one in the city and
we have loyal customers whose numbers keep on increasing.

For the time being, it remains a dream because the existing
bank loan scheme for small and medium enterprises is only a hoax.
The banks will give you Rp 5 million (US$549.45) or below, but
nothing more. They will ask for collateral if you ask for a
bigger loan. So I have to apply for a housing loan to get the
funds to expand the business.

I will write to Susilo about this, asking him to see through
what is really going on regarding the scheme which is supposedly
collateral-free.

Lilik Mulyadi, a judge at the Central Jakarta District Court:

As a new president, I think Pak SBY has the background and
networks necessary to fight against terrorism. He will be able to
do that. I'm optimistic of that.

From my experience in handling terrorism cases at the Denpasar
District Court before I moved to Jakarta, as a judge I had to be
creative to prove that a (terrorism) case was strong enough as it
was very difficult to prove. Collecting evidence was very
important and it should be done more carefully in the future so
there's no more terror activity in this country.

-- The Jakarta Post