'Susilo must keep his election promises'

'Susilo must keep his election promises'

For the first time in history, Indonesia will have its first
president who was directly elected by the people. Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, or more popularly known as SBY and JK,
will take oath on Wednesday, Oct. 20, as the country's new
president and vice president. Hopes are high that the pair can
make a difference and bring about a better future. The Jakarta
Post talked to city residents about their hopes for the new
president.

Dede Oetomo, a lecturer and chairman of gay human rights group
GAYa Nusantara:

I hope the new government will be able to implement the
substance of Article 28I of the amended Constitution, which says
everyone has the right of protection and freedom from
discriminatory treatment.

The recognition of homosexuals is indicated in the
Constitution. There should be no discrimination based on sexual
orientation.

The government could follow the example of the Constitution by
passing an anti-discrimination bill.

Members of SBY's campaign team earlier made negative comments
about marginal groups, including gays.

But we are still positive about the new government since
Kalla, who is the national chairman of the AIDS Eradication
Campaign, has a more positive view.

Indonesia will soon become a member of the United Nations
Human Rights Commission. International pressure would make the
country more accommodating to our group.

Benny Tjoeng, vice president director of publicly listed
plantation firm PT Astra Agro Lestari:

SBY must keep his promises made during the election campaign
that he will improve legal certainty for the business community
and improve coordination between regional administrations and the
central government.

Legal assurances, law enforcement and good coordination
between the central government and regional administrations will
help us to smoothly run the businesses and create more jobs.

The new government must also improve the labor regulations and
eradicate the high-cost economy resulting from unclear policies.

Marius Widjajarta, a general practitioner who is also the
chairman of the Indonesian Health Consumer Empowerment Foundation
(YPKKI):

As a health specialist, there are a couple of steps that I
think the next government must take in order to improve the
country's medical services.

The first step is to create a professional medical standard
for doctors as the country does not have one.

Secondly, the next government must immediately draw up
regulations to enforce Law No. 23/1992 on health. According to
the law, there should be 29 government regulations over a series
of areas. Currently, there are only four. Government regulations
on important issues such as medical and hospital services have
not yet been completed.

Can the next government take these steps? It depends on who is
the next minister of health and how strong their commitment is. I
do sincerely hope the next government will rectify this
situation.
Leonardus Teddy Lukmansyah, is a vendor selling peanut
porridge in Pancoran Glodok, Central Jakarta:

I have run this business since 1971 which I inherited from my
father, who started the business in 1943. This business has the
potential to be big, because we are the only one in the city and
we have loyal customers whose numbers keep on increasing.

For the time being, it remains a dream because the existing
bank loan scheme for small and medium enterprises is only a hoax.
The banks will give you Rp 5 million (US$549.45) or below, but
nothing more. They will ask for collateral if you ask for a
bigger loan. So I have to apply for a housing loan to get the
funds to expand the business.

I will write to Susilo about this, asking him to see through
what is really going on regarding the scheme which is supposedly
collateral-free.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Anton Wahono, the Jakarta Police anticorruption
unit chief:

There is always the hope that the new government will renew
the spirit to fight corruption.

If the government motivates the drive, I hope the public will
be more inspired to report any corruption allegations and give
police investigators more evidence.

As far as the police are concerned, whoever becomes president
does not really matter as we, the prosecutor's office and the
anticorruption commission are the ones who are fighting
corruption.

Lilik Mulyadi, a judge at the Central Jakarta District Court:

As a new president, I think Pak SBY has the background and
networks necessary to fight against terrorism. He will be able to
do that. I'm optimistic of that.

From my experience in handling terrorism cases at the Denpasar
District Court before I moved to Jakarta, as a judge I had to be
creative to prove that a (terrorism) case was strong enough as it
was very difficult to prove. Collecting evidence was very
important and it should be done more carefully in the future so
there's no more terror activity in this country.

-- The Jakarta Post