New president and advisory councils

I think the idea of having a number of advisory councils is commendable. Such councils provide the president with the means of offering posts to those who have helped him to win the election. It also allows him to surround himself with trusted advisors. These advisors are different from those from the departments as their sole loyalty is to the president.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) needs to make sure that these advisors are of different backgrounds so as to provide balanced and objective views on various issues. They need to not only be capable professionally, but also adept at liaising with ministers and the national legislature.

SBY needs to spell out their job descriptions and responsibilities clear. They should not have any other role than that of advising the president. Most importantly, there are pressing and complex issues that need to be answered in the energy, education and employment fields. These issues need to be addressed by the relevant ministries and institutions.

DIAN Jakarta