Susilo announces new public hotline number, 9949

Rendi A. Witular and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bandung

After his private mobile phone crashed just a day after its number was made public last week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made public on Thursday a new phone number, 9949, through which members of the public can directly forward complaints and information.

During a press briefing at the State Palace, Susilo said the new four-digit number could accommodate a large number of text messages from the public as it was connected to a computer and operated by a team of seven people.

"I can assure the public that the number is working now. Please send your complaints or information concerning public affairs directly to me. However, the messages will be sorted out before reaching me (through the team)," he said.

The President said that in order for him to follow up on the messages he received and prevent possible slander, senders should attach their complete names and addresses.

The identity of senders would be fully protected by the President, he assured.

Important complaints and information would be followed up on immediately by the President, including those on corruption and other serious crimes, such as illegal logging, tax evasion, smuggling, kickbacks, terrorism and drug abuse.

"Although the messages will be sorted out, they will all come directly to me without any screening. The team that works for me is directly under my control without having to go through the bureaucracy, which will prevent bias," said Susilo.

For those who do not have mobile phones, the President said they should send complaints and information to PO BOX 9949, Jakarta 10000.

The 9949 phone number given out by Susilo is based on his birthday, Sept. 9, 1949.

Susilo said that over the past three days, he had received 15,360 text messages, with 19 percent of them expressing support for his leadership, 16.5 percent expressing support for his anticorruption drive, 14.5 percent dealing with problems faced by state employees, 17.4 percent dealing with abuses by the security authorities, 6.6 percent concerning infrastructure deficiencies, and 25 percent dealing with miscellaneous issues.

Meanwhile, following the example of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, West Java Governor Danny Setiawan has given out a phone number to residents wishing to lodge complaints, at 0811217434.

Danny said that since Monday, the 34 million residents of West Java had been able to dial 0811217434 and file complaints or express their views.

"We have provided a number, 0811217434, for text messages, just like the President," the governor said on Wednesday.

A day after the number was announced on local radio stations, the governor had received more than 300 text messages from people complaining about everything from traffic to malnutrition.

Danny said that most of the complaints had been forwarded to the relevant agencies.

The governor also plans to set up an e-mail account.