The most satisfying result from the 2009 legislative election is that some 70 percent of the votes went to parties with a Pancasila and pluralistic-based ideology.

The religious hard-liners always claim that they speak for all Muslims in our country, but the reality is, that they speak for their own. The majority of Muslims, and I am one of them, do not want sharia law.

The quiet majority did not take to the streets to demonstrate against sharia, they used their votes instead.

SBY should use this election result as proof that he does not have to give in to religious groups. They are only good for stone-age edicts, noisy demonstrations and representing the religious minority. This election result should improve Indonesia's image.

We were afraid that SBY would go down in the history books as the President who paved the way for Indonesia to become an Islamic Republic because of his sympathy for religious hard-liners. This election has shown this is unnecessary and we expect, if reelected, that SBY will rule for the next five years with more encouragement and decision making. People want to see the general in him as well.

Herdi Seno

Jakarta

Popular

Retail sales, consumer confidence ease as Idul Fitri boost dissipates

Students to rally against Prabowo amid economic pressures

State budget injection into Danantara could raise fiscal risks