SBY urged to work harder to boost his govt's image

Harry Bhaskara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Observers have urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to work harder to reverse what they perceive to be signs of the trust he won from the people six months ago dwindling.

"His political capital is diminishing. He is facing the unrealistic hopes of the people and, yet, has delivered too little," said Ryaas Rasyid, professor at the Institute for Government Studies, in a discussion here on Tuesday night.

Susilo, who came to power last October, is facing formidable challenges that are the legacies of previous governments, including the multi-sectoral crisis stemming from the 1997 financial crisis.

Citing the recent increase of fuel prices as an example, Rasyid said that calculations for money and assistance for the poor had not yet been finalized. The government initially set aside Rp 17.8 trillion (about US$ 1.7 billion) saved by cutting the fuel subsidy to finance a number of programs targeted at low- income families and individuals.

Rasyid said Susilo had ample time to prepare the people for the increase, but had not used it to his advantage.

The government raised fuel prices in March to cut ballooning subsidies due to skyrocketing oil prices. Indonesia has been a net oil exporter for many years but became a net importer for several months last year.

"He should have completed the calculations before the increase, distributing the money to the some 45 million eligible recipients so that, by the time the increase was announced, the recipients would come out in full support of his decision," said Rasyid, who was a former minister for state apparatus.

Rasyid spoke of a moral obligation in politics, saying that a president with morals would gain the respect of the people.

"If a president delivers something worthy, he will win moral authority. In this position he can ask the people to do something that may not be to their liking, such as facing the consequences of the fuel price increase," he said.

Fortunately, Rasyid said, despite a series of protests in a number of big cities, the fuel price increase seemed to have been accepted by the people.

Political analyst Daniel Sparinga said Susilo had been working very hard but had failed to address the most crucial issues.

"He could have done better," Daniel said.

Among the crucial issues Susilo promised during his election campaign to address were corruption eradication, the reform of the law and bureaucracy and improving the general living conditions of the people.

A survey on Susilo by the Indonesian Survey Institute showed a drop in his popularity from 80 percent in November to 67 percent in December. But, another survey conducted by the U.S.- based International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) in February found that 58 percent of the people were satisfied with his performance.

Some embezzlers have been put in prison but many others continue to elude justice.

The discussion was organized by the Indonesian Community for Democracy (KID) and was attended by about 30 people comprising political observers, university professors, NGO activists and members of KID.

Daniel said after the discussion that people in the street who supported Susilo were now asking whether he could stand by his commitments.

"It is not that they are going to dump him, and it is not too late for Susilo to change the perception of himself either. But he can't continuously rely on the impression that he is a trustworthy leader -- one of the reasons why he won the election -- he has to do something concrete," he said.

Daniel said it was important to avoid a condition where the cost would be too dear for the nation to pay if Susilo failed to boost his image.

"If such a thing happens, people in the street will not only mock democracy but will also ask what the relevance of democracy is for them," he said.

He said that people are saying that Susilo is losing control of his own men.

The discussion at the Four Seasons Hotel was moderated by Dr. Ignas Kleden, chairman of KID, a community that was founded with the assistance of the Netherlands-based Institute for Multiparty Democracy. It was the sixth discussion in a series that started with the foundation of the community.