'Susilo's success depends on cabinet'
For the first time in history, Indonesia has its first president who was directly elected by the people. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, or more popularly known as SBY and JK, took oaths of office on Wednesday 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.
Suparman, a history and anthropology teacher at SMAN 17 state high school in Glodok, West Jakarta:
As a teacher, I hope that -- as has been demanded by so many teachers including myself -- the president can improve the teachers' salary and benefits. What I mean is a real improvement, not just empty promises.
The president must continue to develop democratic systems in education and give teachers sufficient authority to do their tasks.
As a citizen, I think the most important thing is for the president to guard democracy. Do not shackle the freedom to express one's opinion or the freedom to organize oneself in the name of guarding national stability.
The government should create security - against common crimes and political crimes. It should also provide more jobs.
I cannot say confidently that the new government will be able to fulfill my hopes. We cannot expect too much.
The elected president, whom so many people pin their hopes on, has uttered quite a lot of promises. Promises of change for the better.
On one hand, we hope that there will be a lot of changes, but on the other hand, there are big doubts. The president should strive to minimize these doubts and show us the changes he has promised.
Djoko Edhi Soetjipto, a legislator from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction:
I hope SBY will empower fiscal watchdogs to prevent further graft and waste of state funds. Should he encourage good fiscal management policies, it will be easier for the nation to make an economic recovery.
The changes include the improvement of Bank Indonesia, the banking sector and the Ministry of Finance.
I think this change will be difficult because these offices are already controlled by the financial "mafia".
The level of his success will all depend on the members of his Cabinet.
Rina, a PR company worker:
SBY must curb corruption, listen to the people and introduce a program for street children by providing education for them.
With an education, they won't be led into bad things and bad choices. You just have to look around you and you can see that even the small ones are already into bad stuff.
Actually, SBY wasn't my choice. But as for whether he can deliver or not, he has to be able to, simply because he is our hope today.
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