Your comments on the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will complete his first-five-year term next week.
In his first term SBY succeeded in nearly every aspect; political, economic and defense. Again, to satisfy everybody is to satisfy nobody.
E. Nurdin
Jakarta
Judging SBY's success during his first term is not too difficult. His first 100 days in office was monumental when he issued Presidential Instruction No. 5/2004 on December 9, 2004 regarding the speeding up of corruption eradication.
Four out of eleven dictums of the instruction mention cooperation with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
It resulted in the indictment of many state officials including members of the House of Representatives by the KPK and sent them to jail. In socio-political aspects, the success is about the country's security and stability.
Social unrest in Ambon and Poso were settled and the separatist movement in Aceh died down after the signing of a peace accord in Helsinki on August 15, 2005.
In economic aspects, due to his stable macro economic policies, he was successful in averting the country from recession amid the global financial downturn in late 2008 by gaining 4.2 percent positive growth, while other ASEAN countries suffered minus growth.
This prompted Indonesia to be included in the G20 group of fast growing economies that recently held its Summit in Pittsburgh, United States.
However, in terms of his failure, there are not many to be mentioned except the latest development of the KPK's leadership problems and the commission's reduced authority to wiretap and prosecute as well as the Corruption Court that is to be put under the jurisdiction of the district court, which many experts say will weaken the KPK.
In short, people have reasons to worry about two things in SBY's second term, namely the absence of opposition in his next government and a weakened KPK.
Rusdi
Jakarta
SBY's performance is commendable. The government is capable of eradicating corruption, implementing better law enforcement, a better political atmosphere and better public services.
The government has to show a better performance in the recruitment of civil servants. Transparency is a must and must be free from nepotism and collusion. Viva SBY.
Donny Monas
Jakarta
