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Yudhoyono busy with meetings, festival
As the House of Representatives’ plenary session on the Bank Century bailout case entered its second day, President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono continues to remain silent on the issue
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s the House of Representatives’ plenary session on the Bank Century bailout case entered its second
day, President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono continues to remain silent on the issue.
On Wednesday afternoon, Yudhoyono summoned ministers from his Democratic Party-led coalition for a three-hour meeting.
Presidential adviser Heru Lelono said Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali of the United Development Party (PPP) and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB) were among those attending the meeting at Wisma Negara.
The two parties are part of the Democratic Party-led government coalition that includes the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
“I didn’t attend the meeting but they may have talked about the situation at the House,” Heru said.
“It‘s normal for the President to monitor developments in the case. It’s very much related to the government.”
In the evening, Yudhoyono attended the Cap Go Meh festival in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. In a speech, the President reminded the public of the importance of political stability to ensure economic growth and consequently, public welfare.
“To improve public prosperity, we must be able to develop the economy, the business and the real sector, the domestic climate must be secure and peaceful, politics have to be stable, and the social cohesion should be good,” he said.
Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha earlier said the President would explain his stance and views on the case, which has brought Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati under the spotlight, around the same time as the House plenary session.
However, following a speech before bankers on Monday in which he said he “took accountability” for the Century bailout decision, Yudhoyono failed to deliver his promised and eagerly anticipated speech.
Meanwhile, Boediono and Mulyani’s had routine workdays.
Boediono met with the visiting chairman of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Lester Crown, along with his 26-member delegation, while Mulyani attended a meeting on economic issues held at the office of Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa.
Later in the day, Boediono led a Cabinet meeting on bureaucratic reform, which was also attended by Mulyani.
Mulyani told the press she was ready to face legal proceedings if necessary, but defended her decision to issue the bailout.
