Students who have traditionally taken pride in their courageous stands against the power establishment now unwittingly place themselves on the side of the corrupt business elite. Special-interest politics has again found a willing host in the Golkar Party. Politicians cynically identify themselves as the voice of the people, as they serve the Golkar Party chairman.

An illogical leader of people politics, the fourth-richest man in Indonesia has multiplied his business fortune five times in five years as a Cabinet minister. Many are grateful that SBY has had the political courage to politely brush aside coordinating minister Aburizal Bakrie and (former) vice president Jusuf Kalla, in one fell swoop, placing his second Cabinet firmly on the side of the reformers.

Despite his achievements, this President is accused of many things. SBY is seen as indecisive, waffling, narcissistic and remote. Some of the accusations are true and some are not, but the point is that none of his perceived shortcomings are impeachable offenses.

The latest fad has people twitting about the significant wealth of President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono. People miss the fact that the combined wealth of SBY-Boediono at less than Rp 30 billion, which is dwarfed by Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto at Rp 400 billion (US$50 million), and Megawati-Prabowo at Rp 2 trillion. The grand total of all six is still a fraction of the staggering wealth of Aburizal Bakrie, estimated at more than Rp 5 trillion.

These fallacies of perception are normal when media spins the truth for political gain. And, unfortunately, the only two television stations broadcasting serious news are used by their owners to pursue political gains. The slanted perspectives of both stations are a public disgrace.

Talk shows repeatedly present the twisted views of compromised talking heads. In a recent broadcast, one station claimed Sri Mulyani was besieged by large student demonstrations when in fact was there were only 10 people playing out a spirited disruption against campus police.

After a hard parliamentary battle that defeated his Democratic Party, President Yudhoyono has amazingly found a strategic advantage. With their parliamentary victory, Golkar found themselves with no strategy for the next rounds. Golkar is undecided between continuing its campaign against the juggernaut of government, and holding on to its coalition privileges.

This is not an easy position for Bakrie. His real motive to oust the finance minister from office, to prevent the unraveling of his illegal business practices. As SBY made clear, he is firm in defending Sri Mulyani, so Bakrie has no recourse other than try to regain the good will of the President. The conciliatory stance of Bakrie in his television speech, made two days after the President’s, was notable for its lack of content.

While Golkar operatives are waiting for the call to attack, Aburizal Bakrie has made a speech of reconciliation, making operators realize they are left hung out to dry. This forlorn position is also the tale of woe of the PKS, who deserted their coalition position. It may have been motivated by the fact that one of the initiators of House inquiry into the Century bailout, a PKS leader, is now under investigation concerning US$22 million which could well have contributed to the downfall of Bank Century.

The PDI-P has an easier position because they have been consistently playing a role as the opposition. Their only problem is restlessness within their ranks, with some party seniors attracted to the idea of replacing Golkar as coalition partner to the President. And some young quasi-activists have become restless in their ambitions and have jumped to the National Democrat organization, which has offered more concrete rewards for attacking SBY.

SBY has had nothing to worry about since he made the blockbuster speech exonerating Sri Mulyani and Boediono, and repeated his endorsement of their handling of Bank Century. He was able to concentrate on catching up with the business of government, while the hodgepodge opposition tried to formulate a new tactical objective. A Cabinet reshuffle is a real option, but there is no haste. It could well be done in the framework of wider changes in the government and the party coalition.

The parliament may be left alone for a while since it is a farce. The House tragicomedy came to a climax last week in a travesty on fairness targeted against the most distinguished officials in the Indonesian government — Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono.

They made signals to impeach President Yudhoyono but these were clearly an empty bluff. The Bank Century case had captured television for months, but the general public preferred reality shows and soap operas. The economy has been doing well. Inflation last year was just 2.8 percent, as the economy grew by 4.5 percent. Unemployment is down, and consumer confidence is sound.

SBY is a President elected directly by the people in a landslide margin, and signs are that he still has the trust of the people. But public perceptions have to be swung back to a semblance of rationality for the nation to appreciate the efforts of SBY, Sri Mulyani, Boediono and the reformers in government.

Clearly, something has to be done in the communications area. Define the limits of bias in television
broadcasts. Develop television programs and stations that will commit to truthful reporting and public
education.

The President has a heavy load of homework, but he can do it with the confidence of a master strategist. The more we appreciate his efforts, the sooner the results will be palpable.


The writer is a public relations consultant with InterMatrix
Communications and the host of WIMAR Live, a public affairs talk show on MetroTV.

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