Open house keeps front-runner Susilo hard at work
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Bogor
Presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wrapped up on Thursday a week of meeting the public to hear their views on what he needs to do during his first 100 days in office.
Over 3,000 people visited his residence in the Puri Cikeas housing complex in Bogor, West Java, to avail of what may well be the last chance to meet face-to-face with Susilo, who has won a landslide victory in the presidential election runoff, although the official result has still to be announced.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) will announce the election result on Oct. 5. With over 110 million of the estimated 125 million votes counted, Susilo has secured 61 percent of the vote, while Megawati Soekarnoputri won 39 percent.
Susilo will receive no more visitors from Friday, saying he now needs to concentrate on strategic matters, including the selection of his Cabinet. He will announce his Cabinet lineup shortly after his inauguration on Oct. 20.
Looking fresh despite his hectic week, Susilo said he had benefited from meeting the public.
"Their complaints will serve as input when I formulate the programs for my first 100 days in office. They expressed their problems spontaneously and I appreciate that," Susilo said.
He said he would spend his first 100 days in office addressing the issues raised by the public.
"Farmers, teachers and civil servants have their own problems. The people raised many issues regarding education, health, corruption and security, which I will try to deal with," Susilo said.
People from all walks of life, all ages and socioeconomic classes visited Susilo's residence over the past week, many with only simple objectives such as taking his photograph or just asking for a handshake.
Some came with demands, ranging from salary increases to the construction of roads.
Among the noted figures who have visited Susilo are businesswoman Hartati Murdaya, his military colleagues Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo and Lt. Gen. (ret) Slamet Supriyadi, Acehnese figure Hasballah M. Saad, and a number of influential Muslim clerics, including Mas Subadar from the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
People also presented Susilo with gifts, including Javanese puppets and pictures.
On Thursday, Susilo received veteran journalist S.K. Trimurti as his special guest.
Even though it is large, Susilo's house was unable to accommodate all the guests, and hundreds of people were left waiting outside in the rain.
The gathering ended in some disarray when the crowd began to push toward the exit gate. At least four people fainted as a result of the ensuing crush.