Two
years ago, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in as president for a second term
after winning an absolute majority in the polls. The political layout could not
have been more perfect for Indonesia's first democratically elected chief
executive.
The circumstances of his re-election might
have evoked envy from any leader in the democratic world. Not only did
Yudhoyono sweep the ballot box, his party was victorious in legislative
elections. A rainbow coalition was formed, ensuring, in theory, the smooth
passage of the President's initiatives at the House of Representatives.
During Yudhoyono's tenure, the international
community has certainly looked at Indonesia with cautious confidence as the
nation's reputation has progressively improved.
There are grounds to be upbeat. World Bank
statistics, for example, support the notion of positive development: The
nation's gross domestic product has nearly doubled over the last five years.
Life expectancy continues to rise, and now
tops 71 years. The under-five mortality rate dropped from 44 per 1,000 children
in 2006 to 39 last year, while the percent of malnourished or underweight
children under five dropped from 19.6 in 2007 to 17.5 in 2010.
Even the "official" time to start a
business has been halved since 2006, and stands at 47 days, as of last year.
From that perspective one would expect an air
of bullish confidence.
But the prevailing reality is the exact
opposite. The chorus of frustration is reaching a pitch. The lack of confidence
evinced towards the government is depressing. Even though those who have tried
to hold back from criticism have taken a blasé attitude rather than defending
an administration without direction.
Statistical analysis hides the growing
vulnerabilities of the nation: The susceptibility of those at the bottom end of
the economic ladder, who for the sake of political gain are continuously bailed
out with a subsidy scheme that undermines the potential for development;
infrastructure that is bursting at the seams due to inadequate capacity and
lack of maintenance; and the anarchy of ''might is right'' driven by religious
chauvinism.
Decades from now, it is unlikely that history
will view Yudhoyono as a bad president. The more telling question is whether he
will be remembered as a good president.
The exasperated tone of the public's appraisal
of the President relates not to what he has done, but instead to what he has
failed to do - despite possessing enviable political advantages. Yudhoyono's
small window of opportunity is closing.
The President's diffident leadership has
failed to inspire hope. His inadequate defense of the ideological fundamentals
buttressing pluralism and civil rights has consequently emboldened religious
thuggery and intolerance.
We have no doubt that Yudhoyono as a soldier and
as a patriot has the courage to defend the tenets that make this secular
republic great. He has the integrity to stand against those who enrich
themselves at the expense of the nation.
However, given Yudhoyono's penchant for
equanimity and a preference for the path of least resistance, we must ask if he
has the backbone to effect needed changes.
It has been seven years since Yudhoyono was
first elected president and two years since he started his second term.
The answer is obvious.
News Desk
The Jakarta Post
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