Your comments on the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will complete his first-five-year term next week.
SBY's first five year performance was very much reflected by his governors' activities in their respective provinces. One of these provinces was able to export needed foodstuff to the other provinces and vice versa, thus creating the inter-island business transaction.
Reading the book by Gorontalo Governor Fadel Muhammad, I cannot help but endorse him as a promising head of the National Development Plan to help SBY realize the dream of the people.
Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta
If one plans to measure success or failure, I guess a benchmark is required so that it will not be mumbo jumbo. Quoting from an editorial of a national daily a few days a go and also a UNDP report, it stated a message that is concerning me as an Indonesian.
Based on the Human Development Index (HDI) Indonesia's position has slid down to the position 111th out of 182 countries. As we know, the HDI looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of well being.
The HDI provided composite measures of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (this one is measured by life expectancy), education levels (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity and income).
The HDI is not perfect as it does not cover measures on gender, political freedom or income inequality. However, it does show the level of Indonesia among other nations. Prior to 2009, Indonesia was ranked 108 out of 177.
In brief, there is a decline and one can perceive the government under the leadership of President Yudhoyono has not been able to achieve a better HDI for Indonesian people in 2009.
Another way to measure the success and failure of President Yudhoyono's first term is to compare the campaign promises during the 2004 election with the reality nowadays.
Having said that, I ponder then, why Aburizal Bakrie has the idea to cut the state health insurance (Jamkesmas). Is he not aware that our HDI is not something to be proud of? Let me quote from the media. "The poverty rate in Indonesia has declined. Therefore the coverage under Jamkesmas will be reduced from 76.4 million people to 60.1 million people. The rest, 170 million others, would be covered by self-paid health insurance."
Indonesian law stipulates the universal scheme of health insurance is mandated and must be reached by 2014. I am looking forward to seeing whether this will be achieved by President Yudhoyono in his second term in office.
It will be an uphill struggle as his HDI track record from his first leaves much to be desired.
Maria Pakpahan
Edinburgh, UK
