Yudhoyono’s popularity drops over Century case

In an alarming sign for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, two recent surveys have just confirmed his declining popularity.

The surveys suggest the causes include the alleged framing of two deputy chairmen of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah, and, most recently, the Bank Century bailout case.

Although there is no proof the President’s is involved in either case, widespread rumors to the contrary have reduced his popularity, the surveys said.

Officials from polling body Indobarometer said in a press conference over the weekend that public satisfaction over Yudhoyono’s performance in the first 100 days of his second term declined by 15 percent compared to when he had just won re-election.

Indobarometer executive director Muhammad Qodari said the result of the body’s recent survey, conducted between Jan. 8 and 18 and involving 1,200 respondents, showed the President’s public approval rating had dropped from 90 percent in August 2009 to the current 75 percent.

“The 15 percent decrease means there are public needs that the government is not addressing. This is an early indicator for the President to improve the government’s future performance,” Qodari said.

He further elaborated that the declining approval level was strongly related to ongoing legal and political issues.

Qodari said most of the respondents followed the cases of Bibit and Chandra, the alleged murder of the director of a state-owned firm by former KPK chief Antasari Azhar, and the Bank Century bailout case.

He said 69 percent, 79 percent, and 77 percent of the respondents knew about the three cases, respectively.

Another survey, conducted by Kompas daily and published in its Saturday edition, showed a similar trend.

Dividing the President’s public approval rating into four major sectors, Kompas said only 45 percent of the 1,249 respondents felt satisfied with Yudhoyono’s economic performance compared with 63 percent three months earlier.

Only 43 percent expressed satisfaction with his performance on law enforcement issues, 58 percent for his handling of political and security affairs, and 47 percent for welfare matters.

All the figures are a decrease from three months ago, and a larger drop from the President’s rating at the start of his first term in January 2005.

Kompas also found that the public’s confidence in the President’s performance in the four sectors experienced a declining trend compared with the figures three months ago and in early 2005.

The President’s drop in popularity, however, is mild compared with that of his subordinates, Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

The two have been under intense public scrutiny since the emergence of the Bank Century bailout case, which is centered on the ballooning of bailout funds, totaling Rp 6.76 trillion (US$730 million).

Many see Boediono, then the central bank governor, and Mulyani as responsible for approving the issuing of the funds, some of which are suspected to have been channeled to certain political parties, including Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.

Qodari said only 18 percent expressed approval for Boediono, but did not mention Mulyani’s rating.

Public policy analyst Agus Pambagyo was quoted as saying by news portal tempointeraktif.com that to restore public trust, it was important for the President to evaluate the implementation of his first 100-days programs.

Source :

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/25/yudhoyono’s-popularity-drops-over-century-case.html

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Minister: 100-day program almost completely ready

The government`s first 100-day program in the economic field is running smoothly and almost 100 percent accomplished, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here on Tuesday.

"No hindrances at all in the process of the program and therefore it is almost 100 percent realized," Hatta Rajasa said after a coordination meeting at his office.

But according to Hatta, the problem was that a lot of infrastructure programs were not in accordance with the site plans and forestry regulations.

Therefore, he said, the government would try to complete the revision of two presidential decrees to overcome the problem, namely the presidential decrees on government partnership with private parties, on land provision.

"With those two decrees, development will be managed in ways that accord with the site plans and do not damage forests," Hatta said, adding that if a forest area had to be developed, there would be a good way out.

He said that based on the revised Presidential Decree on land provision, a forest area could be converted into land for other purposes if the compensation was twice as much as the amount of the forest area concerned.


source :
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1263290112/minister-100-day-program-almost-completely-ready
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SBY warns of ‘politically motivated’ rally next week

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says he has been informed of a plan by rogue elements to use the upcoming International Anticorruption Day on Dec. 9 as a platform for their “political motives”.

Speaking while opening a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Friday, Yudhoyono said the motives were “not necessarily related to corruption eradication measures”.

“I’ve received information that on Dec. 9, some social movements are planning to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he said.

“That’s good, [it shows] concern for our anticorruption measures. However, there are those whose real motives are political.”

Yudhoyono hinted these figures would be those “whose commitments to combating graft are never seen”.

“If that’s the case, then welcome — if you really want to eradicate graft in the country together,” he said.

He added similar political moves were afoot among some parties urging a probe into the Bank Century bailout.

Yudhoyono has in recent weeks expressed his anger over rumors that some of the bailout funds were channeled to his election campaign team and family members.

“Some people sincerely want to get to the bottom of the Bank Century case, to get answers, which we must respect and respond positively to,” he said.

“But I know that others [are doing it] not out of curiosity, [but out of] political motives.”
Yudhoyono said he had already briefed his Cabinet on the issue.

“Whatever happens, especially in Jakarta, it shouldn’t disrupt our concentration and perseverance in doing our duty for the development and welfare of our people,” he said.

The Cabinet meeting touched on developments in the government’s plan to combat judicial corruption and Indonesia’s proposals for the climate conference in Copenhagen.

This is the second time Yudhoyono has openly warned of a plot against himself. On July 17, following the bombings earlier in the day of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, he claimed to also be a terrorist target.

Ahmad Muzani, secretary-general of the opposition Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), suggested Yudhoyono calm down and quit blowing things out of proportion.

“All he has to do is approach all elements in society,” he said as quoted by news portal detik.com.

“Stay calm, this is a trivial matter. As head of state, he can solve this with a persuasive approach.”
Muzani also suggested the announcement was part of a political image-building campaign.

“Yudhoyono is panicking about the worst-case scenario from the rallies to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he added.

“Such rallies, big or small, are the public’s way of expressing their aspirations. There’s no call for panic.”

Former student activist Hariman Siregar said Yudhoyono’s announcement was inappropriate.

“His statement will only serve to further inflame the situation,” he said as quoted


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/05/sby-warns-%E2%80%98politically-motivated%E2%80%99-rally-next-week.html