'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