'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