'I voted for SBY ... but now I'm pesimistic'

'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