New survey rates SBY's popularity as high

New survey rates SBY's popularity as high

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In spite of mounting criticism of his administration following
the fuel price increases, the latest survey shows that President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's popularity remains high, with over
half of the population deeming that he is doing a good job.

However, they are unhappy with the government's economic
performance.

Released by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) here on
Thursday, the poll, conducted in mid-December, put Susilo's job
approval rating at 56 percent, a decline from 63 percent in an
LSI survey issued in September.

The President won respect across the country for his
integrity, as well as performance in the areas of legal, security
and social welfare ever since he took office 15 months ago.

The areas that people feel have room for improvement are
medical services, crime and gambling elimination, corruption
eradication, education and women's empowerment.

The majority of 1,100 respondents, however, are dissatisfied
with the current government's economic performance, with 53.4
percent of them feeling that this year's economic condition was
worse than in 2004.

The sentiment was mainly due to the steep fuel price
increases, which averaged 126 percent.

The respondents said the fuel price hikes made it tougher for
them to buy kerosene (90 percent), cooking gas (61 percent),
gasoline (89 percent) and diesel fuel (73 percent).

The affordability of staple food has also declined, as well as
people's financial ability to cover medical costs and school
tuition.

For the year ahead, only 40.2 percent of the respondents think
things will improve economically.

The toughest challenges for the Susilo administration this
year were creating jobs, reducing poverty, maintaining stable
prices, stabilizing the rupiah and spurring economic growth.

With regards to the recent Cabinet reshuffle, 41 percent of
the respondents believe it will improve the performance of
Susilo's administration, particularly his economics team.

Responding to Susilo's relatively stable popularity,
presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said that 56 percent was
"not too bad" for a democracy.