'I voted for SBY ... but now I'm pesimistic'
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has led the country for almost a year now. How do people perceive his administration? The Jakarta Post interviewed residents to get their comments on life under his leadership.
Siswanto, 45, is a resident of Ciputat, Tangerang regency, and works as a security guard at a private bank on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.
I have no idea about the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). But if you're asking me if life is better with him as president, the answer is a resounding no.
My life is worse than before. Why? Because my salary has not increased, while the prices of staple foods have gone up, thanks to higher fuel prices. My spending for daily transportation has also nearly doubled.
I do not know who is at fault, but low-income people like me are always hit the hardest by fuel price increases. Newspapers are reporting that there will be another fuel price hike. If that is true, our lives will become even more difficult.
During the presidential election, I voted for Pak SBY with the hope that he could overcome the economic crisis. But now I'm pessimistic that Pak SBY will be able to so.
Usman, 31, works for a foreign company on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. He lives in the Bintaro Jaya housing complex in Tangerang.
Well, I think SBY has tried his best to overcome various problems in the country. But of course, we can't expect all the problems to be solved within days or months.
In trying to fight corruption, SBY has supported law enforcers to investigate officials involved in any form of corruption. That is many officials allegedly involved in corruption have been tried and some have been punished.
I can't say that I have seen a good performance by the SBY administration in the economic sector, but I doubt anyone elected president would be able to solve the country's economic problems overnight.
The recent fuel price increases are part of efforts to make our economy healthier.
The government has tried to ease the burden of poor people following the fuel price hikes. Unfortunately, only a few people will get cash aid from the government. Meanwhile, many more people will become poor because of the policy.
--The Jakarta Post