Security concerns make SBY consider palace home
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Imagine a convoy of cars transporting the Indonesian president and security detail from the suburb of Cibubur en route to the State Palace in Central Jakarta during peak hour traffic.
As his residence is on the outskirts of the capital, president-in-waiting Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would stay at the presidential palace, citing technical and security reasons.
"As soon as I take an oath as the country's sixth president, I would prefer to stay at the palace to make it easier for the state protocol to arrange meetings or events that I have to attend," said Susilo, who is heading for a landslide victory in the country's direct presidential election.
"I believe I will be very busy from morning until night, therefore I think it will be more effective for me to reside at the palace."
Susilo lives in Puri Cikeas Indah housing complex in Bogor, around 40 kilometers south of Jakarta.
"I will cause massive traffic jams if I insist on residing here (in Cikeas), while I have to work in the center of the capital," Susilo told reporters after Friday prayers at Al Istiqomah mosque near his residence,
Of the country's five presidents, only founding president Sukarno and Abdurrahman Wahid chose to live in the palace.
Soeharto, who reigned for 32 years, his successor Habibie and the incumbent, Megawati Soekarnoputri, all opted to stay outside the palace.
"It does not mean (that I will) limit the number of guests, it is merely for efficiency," Susilo said.
Susilo's family has been living in Cikeas since 1997 and refused to move to an official residence provided by the state when he was holding high-ranking positions both in the military of the government.
He was coordinating minister for social and political affairs when he moved to his current residence, which was built on 3,000 square meters of land.
Susilo resigned as security minister in Megawati's Cabinet before contesting the election. He now has an unassailable lead over Megawati in the vote count.
The huge house has become a meeting point for people who wish to articulate their aspirations to Susilo, whose victory will be made official on Oct. 5.
People from all walks of life, including teachers and workers, have visited the house over the past week, not to mention regular guests who include his running mate Jusuf Kalla and political party figures.
Susilo said as of Friday he would receive people every day, starting from 4 p.m.
Other military generals who live in the Cikeas housing complex include former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and former Indonesian Military chief of territorial affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo.
The complex was formerly a bamboo plantation belonging to locals before a retired Air Force officer bought it in the early 1990s at a very low price.