'Susilo's success depends on cabinet'

'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