What people say about SBY

What people say about SBY

Ray Rangkuti, executive director of the Independent Election
Monitoring Committee (KIPP):

We have not seen a coherent strategy in dealing with the
country's myriad problems in the administration of President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. As a result, in the first three months
of his administration, we witnessed only sporadic changes which
have had no significant impact on people's daily lives. His
approach was issue-based and a reaction to what went on in the
political scene.

I believe that with such an approach, we can expect that
Susilo's administration will register minuscule changes during
his five-year term.

Ifdhal Kasim, executive director of rights group the Institute
for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam):

In the first three months in office, Susilo's administration
has failed miserably in realizing the pledge he had said was to
be his top priority during his campaign trail -- eradicating
corruption and seeking legal action against human rights abusers.
Susilo may have a strong will to fulfill his promises, but the
institution he hoped would spearhead the move, the Attorney
General's Office had become a weak spot for him.

Instead of finding breakthroughs to bypass the redundant legal
procedures the office has been preoccupied with internal
problems. The new attorney general was busy guarding himself from
a possible mutiny by his subordinates. This can be seen from his
move to set up a team of experts and the Judicial Commission.
Susilo will achieve little progress if the Attorney General's
Office fails to come up with its own creative efforts.

Addie MS, musician/conductor of Twilite Orchestra:

I didn't believe in the 100-day program from the beginning.
It's like an effort to boost the sales of bad quality products
that will break after a month's use.

It will need a longer timetable than 100 days to evaluate the
President's performance. Especially with the tsunami disaster and
everything else going on, the President is in a difficult
position.

I myself am optimistic that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will do a
good job as president. It's not a matter of him being a bad
leader, but the trouble often comes from his subordinates, such
as Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who has often made inappropriate
remarks.

SBY himself might be a good leader, and he has shown good
moves, like in the case of (businessman) Adiguna Sutowo. So, just
give him a chance, don't be too quick to judge and condemn a
president. It's a Goliath task to lead a country, and only by
supporting our presidents can we really produce good leaders.

Shanty Harmayn, filmmaker/cofounder of the Jakarta International
Film Festival (JIFFest):

From the beginning, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
Vice President Jusuf Kalla have been burdened by very high
expectations. The challenges were enormous.

But on the other hand, they have more support and
opportunities to perform better. And I don't see that they have
made good use of the support and opportunities.

They are not determined and firm enough, and judging from the
media, it seems that the administration does not have good
coordination.

They just have to be more firm and strict. Take a risk, don't
be indecisive anymore. And I hope the government can come up with
a clear plan and strategy to improve the cultural scene as there
is none at all now.

Agung Laksono, House of Representatives Speaker and deputy
chairman of the Golkar Party:

We can see some weaknesses, for example the policies on
corruption eradication. There are several figures who have
allegedly committed corruption, but they are still free.

Also, we have not seen steps to deal with economic recovery.

We, however, understand that the government has worked hard in
some sectors. Then, the catastrophic tsunami came. This has
consumed the energy of the government. It has also forced the
government to spend money on disaster mitigation.

The House will not make a specific assessment of the first 100
days of the government. For the House, the assessment is an
ongoing duty carried out every day.

Ignatius Mulyono of the Democratic Party:

Basically, we agree that it is impossible to change the
terrible conditions in the country within only 100 days. But, we
can see the steps taken by the government of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono.

He has given clear direction to his Cabinet ministers to put
in place the fundamentals for further actions.

We cannot expect spectacular changes within 100 days. If there
are drastic changes it will only create anxiety among the people.
The ministers have shown serious action.

I hope fellow legislators can jointly criticize the policies
of the government, the President and his ministers, so that our
expectations can be realized.

Sugiarto, a graphic design student at Bina Nusantara:

I have not felt any changes. The program probably means more
to the poor than to us who can afford school fees. I think there
should be better moral education at school especially for
elementary students. It might be able to curb corruption in the
future. The current curriculum called PPKN or Pancasila and Civic
education is not sufficient as students need more practical
lessons instead of theories.

Johantan Indraguwan, a student at the University of Tarumanegara:

It is too early to see whether his program has worked or not.
So far, I have not felt any changes in the education system. We
have not seen any results, but it is not that he has failed to
fulfill his promises, as we might be able to see the results in
the next six months. But in the future, there needs to be a
subsidy for education because the current cost of education is
too high in comparison to people's living standards.

Andreas Pandiangan, a political analyst from the
Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang:

Susilo's Cabinet has done little in the past 100 days,
especially to do with combating corruption. The government has
been sluggish in prosecuting big corruption cases. There are
several important cases that have been investigated for the past
few years but never brought to court.

Andreas Herry Kahuripan, the secretary general of the
Indonesia Forest Research Institute (LPHI), in Pekanbaru, Riau,
on Thursday:

Susilo's Cabinet has still failed to address the problem of
illegal logging during his first 100 days in office. Illegal
logging remains rampant in the regions although the government
has stepped up a campaign against the practice.

In order to succeed in combating illegal logging, the
government must tighten its supervision of the sector and take
harsher measures against errant officials and the illegal loggers
themselves. The government should also set up a special court to
deal with the offense.

Moedji Raharto, a senior astronomer at the Bosscha Observatory
in Lembang, West Java:

The situation has got worse during the first 100 days of
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration. There has been a rise
of jobless people during the past three months and the price of
household items, including liquefied petroleum gas, has
skyrocketed. I am afraid that his popularity among the people
will fade away to nothing.

Ade Jasman, a spokesman for the National Student Front in
Jambi:

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration has so far failed to
provide affordable quality education for the people. School fees
remain expensive, barring the poor from enjoying the benefits of
education.

Deswati Sembiring, a contract worker in an industrial estate
in Batam, Riau:

I thought that President Susilo would pay more attention to
the fate of workers. However, my hopes so far have proven
unfounded. The fate of workers has not yet improved in President
Susilo's first 100 days. We have fought for better wages but our
demands have fallen on deaf ears.