Yudhoyono Sulawesi Ramadan trip a 'success' but delays air travelers

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Kendari   |  Mon, 09/29/2008 10:52 AM  |  National

Street banners offered praise to welcome President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his visit Thursday to the Southeast Sulawesi capital.

"Welcome SBY, the president of our dreams" "Welcome the leader who unites this nation," read the banners set along the presidential entourage route from Wolter Monginsidi airport to the Alun Alun Kendari plaza. Still others said, "SBY raises the nation's dignity" and "The people of Southeast Sulawesi and the entire state love President SBY".

Posters with the president's picture lined the streets, along with flags from his Democratic Party.

Governor Nur Alam said the banners expressed Kendari residents' excitement at welcoming the Yudhoyono. He denied they formed any part of political bargaining.

"We must distinguish political bargaining from public expression. After all, I hope the public will continue to show such enthusiasm and the central government will always pay attention to the regions," said the governor, who assumed office in April.

This was Yudhoyono's second visit to Kendari. His first was in 2006, when he attended the National Koran Recital Competition (MTQ).

During his visit Thursday, Yudhoyono met Kendari's residents in the plaza, where a crowd began gathering in the morning in anticipation of the President's 1 p.m. arrival.

"My trips during this year's Ramadan have focused on areas of Java, except today. Thank God, I now have the chance to be here to break the fast and perform tarawih (the Ramadan evening prayer) with the people of Kendari. Hopefully, it will bring blessings for all of us," Yudhoyono told the crowd.

During the second week of Ramadan, the President visited cities across East Java, followed by a trip to Central and West Java the week after.

"I've come to monitor development here and to make sure local administration and government programs succeed," he said.

During the gathering, Yudhoyono presented the governor with a Rp 137.38 billion (US$14.8 million) aid package under the National Program for Community Development, in addition to 3,000 staple food packets donated to two community representatives.

He also witnessed the transfer of Rp 68.16 billion in cash managed by directors of three state-owned banks under the loan scheme for small enterprises (KUR).

Kendari's residents have applauded Yudhoyono for the KUR program, dubbing the loan scheme "Kredit SBY" (SBY's credit), Yudhoyono's weekly newsletter Sambung Hati 9949 reported in its latest edition.

The event ended with a performance by traditional dancers wearing blue, white and red costumes -- the colors of the Democratic Party.

Later that day, Yudhoyono attended a gathering to break the fast at the governor's residence and performed tarawih at a mosque in the city's center.

Decorations at the mosque also displayed the colors of Yudhoyono's party.

Worshippers at the mosque enthusiastically greeted the President. Some brought pocket cameras in the hopes of taking his picture, including a woman seated in the back row who missed her chance to snap a shot of Yudhoyono entering the mosque.

"May I take just one picture?" she asked the reporters gathered behind her, after he had already entered.

She expressed disappointment when she later found out First Lady Ani Yudhoyono would not attend.

"Where's Ibu Ani? I thought she would be here," the woman said.

Yudhoyono's agenda that day concluded with a dinner at the capital's most famous restaurant. On Friday morning, he headed to Makassar to inaugurate the newly refurbished Sultan Hasanuddin airport.

In contrast to the praise it received in Kendari, Yudhoyono's visit to Makassar was met with complaints from airline passengers who had to wait for the presidential entourage to depart before proceeding with their flights.

"He (the President) messed up our schedule," one of the passengers said in response to the delay announcement.

"What can we do? Just accept it," another replied.

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