'SBY has made no great achievements'

After winning the country's first direct presidential election, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took his oath of office last Oct. 20. How do people perceive his leadership over the past year? The Jakarta Post interviewed some residents here.

Uchok Khadafi, 30, is an activist of a non-governmental organization on Jl. Mampang, South Jakarta. He lives with his family in Central Jakarta.

In my opinion, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has failed to realize his election promises. The recent fuel price increases prove that SBY is not empathetic.

During the election campaigns, he said the people's welfare was everything to him.

Based on a survey that we just carried out, people actually do not oppose the fuel price rises. What makes them angry is that the government increased the prices prior to the fasting month.

The people had hoped the government would delay the increases until next year.

In the legal sector, I do not see that SBY has made any great achievements. I see that his administration, or at least law enforcers, are discriminative in fighting against corruption.

The corruption case in the General Elections Commission (KPU) is an example. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is not investigating a former KPUD member who is now a member of his Cabinet.

Harini, 38, is a resident of Cisauk subdistrict. He is an English teacher in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), Tangerang.

Frankly, I pity him. Indonesia has faced a lot of problems under his leadership -- natural disasters and many other incidents.

The Bali bomb blasts being the most recent national tragedy.

I think within one year he has tried to do many things, but he faces too many problems. In terms of fighting corruption, he wants to show that he is serious by investigating a number of embezzlers.

I support his policies, except the recent fuel price hike.

He increased fuel prices by 169 percent on average, while people were entering the fasting month. It has caused the prices of all commodities to increase significantly.

Meanwhile, the cash assistance is only distributed to a limited number of needy people. I hope that the government will allocate more money for helping poor families.

--The Jakarta Post