First of all President Yudhoyono needs to carefully read Indonesia's problems to get a clear picture of social formations in Indonesia. In series of studies, it is clear the country is not a poor country. So, why are the majority of its people still poor? Tackling poverty should be on the list of priorities. In other words, we need to seriously address unemployment.
Secondly, a person with a strong vision, clear mind and commitment will understand that one of the major problems is the Indonesian agriculture sector and I hope President Yudhoyono has a clear orientation that land issues are very connected to agricultural problems.
It is understandable that some people want to see Indonesia as an industrious country. However, a down-to-earth approach that emphasizes our strengths is a more logical choice and therefore strengthening the agriculture sector is a priority that President Yudhoyono must take.
Thirdly, some focus work should look into the question of demographics and the urgent need for law audits, as many laws and local ordinances conflict with constitutional mandates, such as laws on coastal management, pornography, mineral and coal mining and local ordinances (Perda), which favor certain groups or religions.
The problem of Indonesian migrant workers is another urgent issue. Almost every day, there is bad news on how Indonesian migrants are treated abroad.
President Yudhoyono must be aware that the remittances from these migrants (the majority are women!) is the second-largest revenue to the country after oil and gas. The Manpower and Transmigration Ministry (Menakertrans) and the BPTKI have not been successful in tackling these problems for various reasons.
I believe the President must tackle these problems immediately as migration is a big issue and migrant workers make a significant contributions to the economy. One of the major issues with migration is post migration, which was hardly dealt with by President Yudhoyono in his first term.
The other important priority (within the framework of the justice system which covers the justice apparatus, the culture of justice in Indonesia and the content of justice, which is far from ideal) is calling for serious endeavors.
The list is endless when one talks about problems and priorities. The quality of education from primary to university level is another urgent issue that cannot be ignored as it will determine the future of Indonesia.
Among the most urgent issues is the backlog of problems from the previous term that must be addressed fairly. One can mention the Lapindo issue and Munir's case as a start, the public is still waiting for these issues to be adequately solved. In a larger framework, the KPK as an institution is now in limbo.
The President must ensure the KPK works and does have the aim to eradicate corruption. Maybe words from Elie Wiezel, a Nobel Laurate and Auschwitz survivor, will be useful to ponder: "Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victims. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
I hope President Yudhoyono does have a clear orientation and framework for his next five years in office. Nobody likes to be called mediocre.
Maria Pakpahan
Edinburgh, UK
