'The country is just the same as before'

The country's first directly elected administration, that of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, often referred to by their initials SBY-JK, will have been in power for one year next Oct. 20. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakarta people what successes the government has recorded and what must be done to solve the country's political and economy problems.

Nelly, 28, is a secretary at a dairy plant in Tangerang. She lives with her husband and daughter in Cililitan, East Jakarta:

I voted for SBY as I believed he could bring changes to the country. Or at least that he would be better than previous presidents.

Having seen what has happened in Indonesia during his one year in power, I now regret that I voted for him.

I think Indonesia is just the same as it always has been, if not worse. This is not just about the fuel price hikes as I believe we should accept these. But look at how he came up with the cash assistance program for the poor and the way he managed it. It's totally ridiculous!

The program causes conflict among neighbors and even among family members as it creates envy among them. This is just one example of how insensitive the SBY administration is. We have had many examples of this kind of policy failure.

Even as regards the corruption eradication program, his most touted program, he can't be considered successful as the program was only effective at the beginning. Now, it's going nowhere.

Julian, 38, is a sales agent with a property consultancy firm in Central Jakarta. He lives with his wife and children in Bintaro, South Jakarta:

For me, it is not yet clear what SBY has achieved in his first year. I can't say that the fight against corruption, for instance, has been a success as embezzlement, bribery and collusion are still rampant.

Probably, we should give him credit for his daring move to begin cracking down on the big-fish embezzlers. But his ultimate success will depend on how consistent he is in waging war on corruption.

On the other hand, I realize that many unfavorable external factors, such as the rise in global oil prices and his rivalry with his Vice President, have limited SBY's ability to make our country better.

Still, his indecisiveness accounts for much of his failures. He should realize that he is the first President elected in a direct presidential election. He should reap full political benefit from that, and be more decisive.

-- The Jakarta Post