Commentary: It is not April Fool’s Day; where is the President?

If we ask about the whereabouts of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today, it has nothing to do with April Fool’s Day, which falls every year on April 1, but is because our beloved leader has remained deaf and mute for quite some time while millions of Indonesians are patiently waiting for his guidance.

The President has yet to explain to the nation why he had to humiliate himself in the face of the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party, who frequently ridiculed his policies despite being members of the President’s ruling coalition. In the beginning, he acted as if as he would force the two parties from the Cabinet.

But, it turned out he was too afraid to sack his incompetent ministers, although he knew very well they had become liabilities for him and disasters for his people.

If he said to us, “I have no guts at all,” we would wholeheartedly accept that explanation because we all understand his inability to say “no”. But, the President needs to speak to us.

It seems the President pretends not to be aware that oil prices continue to rise and that the goverment needs to make a drastic decision to prevent the state budget from bleeding because oil subsidies will be unbearable unless domestic fuel prices are significantly increased.

If he said, “I am too scared of losing my popularity,” his loyal people would bow in a show of respect for his hesitation to act as a statesman. We fully understand that image stands above everything else for our head of state.

Yudhoyono also allowed National Police generals to demonstrate their wealth in public and abuse their power without shame while accumulating savings for their great-great-grandchildren. Similarly, petty police officers even go their own way and try to benefit through their limited powers. Just several days ago, three police officers abducted a university student from his own home just to get ransom money from his parents in Jakarta.

“I cannot open my mouth, even to police generals,” would be an expected response from the President when his people urged him to end the shameful acts of the police.

There are concerted efforts by parties and by the government to undermine the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and instead grant power to the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to spy on citizens for the sake of state security.

“No comment.” (Can the President say otherwise?)

But, why was the President so quick to react to the WikiLeaks reports, which quoted American diplomats as describing the President’s wife, Kristiani Herawati, as greedy for power and money and that he often ordered his subordinates to do whatever was necessary to weaken his political foes? We Indonesians fully trust in the First Family’s integrity and we also have no doubt that the President never thought, even once, to misuse the power mandated to him.

But to be honest, the question as to the whereabouts of the President actually comes from a frustrated taxpayer who is confused about the ongoing chaos in this country.

On Monday, a young taxman in a mall in East Jakarta smiled broadly at me when I handed him my annual tax return just a few days before the March 31 deadline. His teeth were as white as his shirt and his smile was as charming as the expressions of hotel receptionists in Bali when receiving foreign guests.

Suddenly, I heard a conversation behind me.

“Even Pak SBY obediently pays his taxes,” an elderly taxpayer whispered to his friend while they were waiting in line for their turn.

“But, where is your favorite president now? Our country is in chaos but he is hiding from reality,” said the younger one. I guess he was a diehard supporter of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

But, let us return to the question about Yudhoyono’s whereabouts. I do not think he is hiding out, but intentionally refraining from making too many public remarks because he is preoccupied with decision-making. As a “thinking general”, all his decisions are made after long — even prolonged — and thorough processes of consideration.

Although the question about where the President is came from a “nobody”, it is still relevant.

Is the President still busy persuading the First Lady to stop crying after the WikiLeaks’ report about her ?

Housewife gossip says that the President is now exerting all his energy in preparing for his youngest son Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono’s wedding to Siti Ruby Aliya Rajasa, the eldest daughter of Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa. Hatta also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), Yudhoyono’s coalition partner.

May I repeat the question: Bapak President, where are you now?