SBY: Leaders must maintain public trust amidst uncertainty
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), has emphasised the importance of maintaining public trust when facing current global uncertainties.
SBY stated that the world is entering an era of uncertainty characterised by various global challenges, ranging from increasing geopolitical rivalry and wars and conflicts in various regions to changes in global supply chains.
“Strong leadership is about maintaining public trust and creating opportunities amidst various disruptions,” SBY said at The 2026 Asia Grassroots Forum by Amartha in Jakarta on Thursday.
Drawing from his experience leading Indonesia through periods of crisis and transition—including the impacts of the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, the 2004 Aceh tsunami, and the 2008 global financial crisis—SBY outlined several leadership principles required amidst uncertainty.
According to him, leaders must remain calm when facing difficult situations, as panic can weaken institutions. “Fear spreads quickly during difficult times. Panic weakens institutions. A leader must remain calm, honest, and have a clear direction,” he said.
Furthermore, he noted that leaders must be able to combine pragmatism with principle. In an increasingly complex world, he argued that a nation must be adaptive and realistic, while still adhering to fundamental values.
He also emphasised the importance of long-term vision in leadership. In his view, human resource development, institutional reform, climate resilience, and innovation cannot be achieved in a short period. Additionally, SBY maintained that leadership must be inclusive so that the benefits of development can be widely felt by the community. “Growth that is only enjoyed by a small group of people will ultimately lead to instability,” he said.
Despite increasingly complex global challenges, SBY expressed optimism regarding the future of ASEAN and Indonesia. He stated that this optimism stems not from the challenges being small, but because the ASEAN region possesses strong capital in the form of a young population, dynamic entrepreneurs, a continuously evolving digital ecosystem, a resilient society, and significant human resources.
SBY noted that this strength is found not only in major cities or large corporations but also in villages, local communities, small business actors, and the millions of people who continue to work, strive, and build hope amidst uncertainty. He believes this capital will serve as an essential foundation for ASEAN and Indonesia to face various global challenges in the future.