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Jakarta Post

Slippers, denims and one last handshake

Whether it was due to curiosity, expectations for money, showing political gestures or simply sincere respect, thousands of people flocked to meet the outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his last Idul Fitri open house at the State Palace

Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, July 31, 2014

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Slippers, denims and one last handshake Swan song:: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono (center) pose with president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and wife Iriani (right), and vice presidential-elect couple Jusuf Kalla and Mufidah in Jakarta Monday. Yudhoyono hosted an “open house” at the State Palace. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) (center) pose with president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and wife Iriani (right), and vice presidential-elect couple Jusuf Kalla and Mufidah in Jakarta Monday. Yudhoyono hosted an “open house” at the State Palace. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

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hether it was due to curiosity, expectations for money, showing political gestures or simply sincere respect, thousands of people flocked to meet the outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his last Idul Fitri open house at the State Palace.

Swan song:: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono (center) pose with president-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and wife Iriani (right), and vice presidential-elect couple Jusuf Kalla and Mufidah in Jakarta Monday. Yudhoyono hosted an '€œopen house'€ at the State Palace. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)

The public Idul Fitri open house at the palace has been an annual event during Yudhoyono'€™s two-term presidency where he and his wife Ani Yudhoyono greet a long line of well-wishers '€” ordinary citizens coming from various backgrounds.

The crowds had begun swarming the palace several hours before the 90 minute event, which started at around 3:30 p.m.

Later, after they were grouped according to colored cards, they entered the security checkpoint before they, one by one, met Yudhoyono for a short halal bihalal (post-Ramadhan) handshake.

Starting the day with regular Idul Fitri prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque, just a few kilometers from the palace, and the traditional sungkeman (kneeling down in front of the older family members and asking for forgiveness), the Yudhoyono family appeared in green dresses during the afternoon gathering.

Yudhoyono'€™s eldest son Agus Harimurti, his wife Annisa Pohan and daughter Almira Tunggadewi were not on the scene as they had left Jakarta in late June for the United States, where Agus is attending a one-year course in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Devi, a 23-year-old mother of one son, who was among the visitors that day, said she was happy to meet Yudhoyono for the second time for Idul Fitri at the palace.

Devi, who is married to a driver and lives in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, brought along her neighbors and siblings.

'€œIt is his last open house as President; I was hoping he would give me an envelope with money inside,'€ said Devi while holding her toddler using a worn-out batik fabric. '€œBut I guess a box of snacks will do.'€

She was referring to the box of snacks and drink each person received that day.

Devi said the queue was longer last year.

'€œIt looks quite empty this year. But, they [the organizers] are also more loose. I thought denim and slippers were not allowed. Last year, I didn'€™t dare to do that, but this year, I took my chance,'€ she said, while pointing to her slippers.

According to the palace, there were around 1,750 common citizens there that day, among an undisclosed number of other guests, including family of staffers.

Ipah, who looked confused over the protocols while she was exiting the palace, said she, her husband and son tried their luck by simply coming to the Palace without knowing the proper procedures.

'€œThis is my first time. I was just curious [to meet Yudhoyono],'€ said a washerwoman from Jembatan Lima, West Jakarta, who also wore slippers, along with a T-shirt and denim pants.

She was ready to give up her jacket, which she thought had been permanently confiscated by Yudhoyono'€™s security detail before she entered the palace to shake the President'€™s hand.

An hour before the public open house, Yudhoyono'€™s staffers gathered disabled people in several groups at a hall at a State Secretariat building inside the palace complex where presidential special staffer for publications and documentation Ahmad Yani greeted them on behalf of Yudhoyono.

Ahmad briefed them that not everyone was given the chance to meet Yudhoyono.

It appeared that the palace had learned from past experiences. For example, in 2010 a blind man died in a stampede at the same event.

Giving them such understanding, Ahmad said, would make them happier.

However, someone at the exit door murmured '€œAgain, [I] did not get the chance to shake his [Yudhoyono'€™s] hand.'€

Around 1,100 disabled people came in groups that day from various areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang and Karawang, but only 10 were randomly picked to meet Yudhoyono.

A married couple Erli and Hendri from Depok were among the 10. Erli said she was happy, while Hendri said he would have liked the chance to speak longer with the President.

The staffers later gave each of the more than 1,000 handicapped people a package containing
food and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Before meeting the public, the President greeted Vice President Boediono, as well as a number of Cabinet members, leaders of state bodies, former officials and ambassadors.

President-elect and Jakarta Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, along with his running mate Jusuf Kalla, and their wives also paid a visit to Yudhoyono at around 12:20 p.m.

Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Syariefuddin Hasan, who is also an executive of Yudhoyono'€™s Democratic Party, said he was amazed that people still came to the event enthusiastically.

'€œThere was no difference. I'€™m also surprised. There was still long queues and I was still sweating [due to the crowd],'€ he said.

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