Security concerns make SBY consider palace home
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.