TENSIONS CALM DOWN IN RUN-UP TO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Oct 19 (Antara) - Indonesia's political tensions abruptly calmed down over a meeting between President-elect Joko Widodo and former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on Friday.          Tensions have been running high since July 9, 2014 presidential race over mutual claim of victory and alleged election fraud.          Tensions continued despite a decision by the Constitutional Court (MK) confirming the victory of Joko Widodo. Lately rumors have it that there were efforts to thwart the presidential inauguration ceremony scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2014.          But all this abruptly calmed down when President-elect Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, visited Prabowo on his birthday on Friday, creating conducive political atmosphere in the run-up to the presidential inauguration.          Both leaders agreed to create and maintain peace and unity in Indonesia. "We agree to maintain the unity of Indonesia, the nation's ideology Pancasila, and the Constitution," Prabowo remarked after  the meeting at his late father's house in Jakarta.          Jokowi based on schedule will be installed as Indonesia's seventh president along with his running mate Jusuf Kalla (JK) on Monday.

NEXT GOVT EXPECTED TO CONTINUE PREVIOUS ECONOMIC PROGRAMS

By Andi Abdussalam

       Jakarta, Oct 18 (Antara) - The next government under Joko Widodo, who will be sworn in as Indonesia's seventh president on Monday, is expected to continue development programs begun by outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

         The continuation of the programs, such as the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia's Economic Development (MP3EI), along with other people-oriented programs, is important for the people and for the sustainability of the nation's development.
         "Development is a long process. It is not an event that lasts only for one or two years. In view of that, our energy, spirit, and life must be aimed at sustainable development efforts. It is not only the environment that must be preserved, but also the development efforts in stages," outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated during a national meeting with regional civilian and military officials in Jakarta on Wednesday.
        Further, outgoing Vice President Boediono also asked upcoming vice president Jusuf Kalla to continue people-oriented programs, such as the rice for the poor scheme, in an effort to improve the welfare of those at the bottom of society.
        The MP3EI program is one of President Yudhoyono's main development programs in the economic field, which must be continued by the next government.

PEOPLE BEGIN DISCOURSE ON KALLA FOR PRESIDENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 29 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian public has begun to engage in a discourse on the possibility of former vice president Jusuf Kalla (JK) to be named a presidential candidate although the 2014 presidential race is still  more than two-and-a-half years away.         Jusuf Kalla, who is also a former Golkar Party chairman said early this month in Pekanbaru, Riau Province,  that he was ready to run for president in 2014 if he received support from the public. "If there is full support from the people, then I am ready. But for the time being, I will  not comment much about it yet. The time has not yet come," he said after inaugurating  an Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)office for Riau province.          Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Golkar Party Akbar Tandjung said  the party had not ruled out the possibility of nominating a figure other than  current Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for the presidency in 2014.          "Nominating JK is a possibility , particularly if survey results show that there are other Golkar figures who have higher electability than Aburizal Bakrie,"  Akbar said here on Tuesday night.           However, Akbar said, Golkar had not yet  decided to look for an alternative figure to be named a presidential hopeful other than its present general chairman. The  mechanism to nominate someone for the presidency  had already been adopted at Golkar's National Leadership Meeting some time ago.          "Golkar's Research and Development Center has conducted a research (on alternative names to be nominated) but we will make public the names only if Golkar has decided to seek an alternative candidate," said Akbar.          He said that people can just mention several names of Golkar figures, yet Golkar would mention an alternative name only if it was  officially decided to name an alternative one.          Akbar said alternative names would likely be sought if the electability of Aburizal Bakkri was low as  a presidential candidate.          "The momentum  will be when the Golkar party  announces its presidential candidate at its National Leadership meeting in October 2012. But before it makes the announcement, Golkar should first be convinced that the name it would announce has high electability,"  Akbar said.          In the meantime, Golkar Deputy Chairman Fadel Muhammad said his side had not yet thought of naming Kalla as Golkar's presidential hopeful in the next presidential election.          "The electability of Aburizal is still high. The electability of Ical (Aburizal) and Kalla differs only slightly. We can improve and raise Ical's electability," Fadel said.          After all, Ical's electability has continued to increase of late, he said referring to the results of a survey  recently.          Based on the results of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) last week,  the electability of Jusuf Kalla was recorded at 7.0 percent, below that of Megawati Soekarnoputri which was recorded at 15.2 percent and Prabowo Subianto (10.6 percent).          Aburizal Bakrie's electability was 5.6 percent or in  fourth place, followed by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono (4.9 percent) and Wiranto (3.9 percent).          A survey conducted  by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicated that Ical was in  fourth position after Megawati, Prabowo and Jusuf Kalla with an electability of 5.2 percent.          According to Akbar Tanjung, the  electability factor would be taken into account in naming a presidential candidate. Golkar would  pay attention to the electability development in the coming few months.          In the meantime, support from other parties, namely from the Regional Executive Branches (DPW) of the United Development Party (PPP) began to increase.          "Our support for Jusuf Kalla from DPWs has begun to crystallize," Rachmat Yasin, chairman of PPP's DPW for West Java, said. He said that the 30 DPWs included West Java, West Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra, Riau Islands, Banten, North Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Riau, Maluku, Bengkulu, Central Kalimantan, Jayapura, West Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Aceh, North Sumatra and South Sulawesi.           Yet, according to Rachmat, the support is still in the form of aspirations because any decision on the presidential candidate was in the hand of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of PPP. "It will depend on the DPP which will decide it," he said.          PPP General Chairman Suryadharma Ali said his party had not yet decided as to who it would name a candidate in the coming presidential race. The strong support for JK during the PPP National Working Meeting in Kediri still constituted an aspiration, he added.          "The aspirations raised by the DPWs are an input for the central executive board but the map for the presidential candidate is not yet seen now," Suryadharma Ali said.            He said that the next presidential candidate should be able to increase the number of PPP's cadres and its seats in the House.          According to Rachmat, the DPWs of PPP supported Kalla because he was a great,  strong and clean figure, and was expected to increase the number of  PPP's vote turnouts in the 2014 elections.         Kalla himself is still reluctant to comment about the support given to him by the PPP's regional executive branches. When asked about the political party he would join if he receives full support from the public, Kalla declined to comment.          "Again, I would not comment much about it. It is not yet time for it," he said.           Jusuf Kalla, born in Bone, South Sulawesi on May 15, 1942, was the running mate of current president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the presidential election in 2004, which they won.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/22:30/H-YH) 29-02-2012 22:52:2

BANK CENTURY MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCK FOR MULYANI

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 5 (ANTARA) -The newly established Independent United People's Party (SRI) has made public its plan to nominate former finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, currently World Bank managing director, as its presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential race.          But observers see that the chance for Sri Mulyani to take part in the 2014 presidential contest is small as she faces heavy challenges, one of which is the Rp6.7 trillion Bank Century bailout scandals.         "One can just nominate Sri Mulyani as a presidential candidate in 2014 but the Bank Century issue could hamper her because the issue would always be raised," Director of the Setara Institute Hendardi said.           Sri Mulyani as a finance minister was one of the figures involved in injecting up to Rp6.7 trillion to bail out ailing Bank Century in the midst of a world economic crisis at the end of 2008.           The House of Representatives has considered the policy wrong and has asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate possible corruption in it. The KPK has so far found no indications of corruption in the bailout decision, however.           The case began when the ailing bank was then taken over by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS). The government provided it with a bailout of Rp6.7 trillion through the issuance of a Short-Term Funding Facility (FPJP) and  Temporary Capital Participation (PMS).           The amount provided was far higher than the Rp1.3 trillion then discussed with the House of Representatives (DPR).  It sparked public criticism and questions as it was disbursed without approval of the House of Representatives (DPR).           At a Hose plenary session, seven of the nine factions mentioned that violations had been committed with regard to the issuance of the Short-Term Funding Facility (FPJP) and Temporary Capital Participation (PMS).           Until now, the Bank Century case still remained unsettled.  Hendardi said that the Bank Century case had become a political decision where the House had recommended that the KPK should investigate it.          He said that Sri Mulyani could be freed from the Bank Century shackles if the KPK closed it. "The Bank Century issue could serve as a stumbling block for Sri Mulyani. The KPK should soon settle the problem so that it would not continue to become a political issue," he said.          Secretary General of the National Mandate Party (PAN)  Taufik Kurniawan occurred Hendardi saying that he  was still difficult to see the chance of Sri Mulyani in the 2014 presidential race. Even without the SRI party, Mulyani would face problem to compete in the presidential contest.          "With regard to Sri Mulyani, we cannot comment much before the SRI party passes the verification process," Taufik said.          He expressed doubts that SRI would pass verifications so that he would not comment on its presidential nominee in the 2014 presidential race.       "PAN sees the establishment of SRI as a normal thing just like other newly established political parties such as the Nasdem and the Nasrep. SRI is still a would-be political party and it is still uncertain whether it will pass the verification process,"  Taufik said here on Friday.          Yet, he said, PAN would welcome Mulyani in the arena of real competition if SRI passed the verification because the presence of SRI would enliven the 2014 presidential race.          "So, we in the democratic atmosphere in the post reforms movement are of course happy to witness how the rights to union and assemble are reflected in the political party. All of this is regulated in the law. The presence of the political parties undoubtedly enlivens our democracy," he said.          Earlier, SRI had registered as a political party with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. The party is led by Damianus Taufan and planning to nominate former finance minister Sri Mulyani as its presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential elections.          Political observer Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that SRI should be able to free Sri Mulyani from the shackles of Bank Century stigma if it would nominate Sri Mulyani as its presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential race.          He indicated   however that presidential hopefuls in the 2014 polls should not come from military and political circles only.          "There should also be presidential candidates from other areas of profession who are trusted by the people and have integrity," Ikrar said. The presidential candidates who came from other backgrounds should have high integrity and good track records, such as freedom from corruption links.          He did not indicate whether he had a reference to Sri Mulyani Indrawati who would be nominated by the newly established Independent United People's Party (SRI), but he said the press already knew who he meant.          According to Setara Institute director Hendardi, the KPK would be very decisive for the readiness of Sri Mulyani to become a presidential candidate.          If the KPK ruled that the bail-out fund amounting to Rp6.7 trillion to Bank Century did not violate banking crime rules, then Sri Mulyani would be freed from the psychological burden.          "In order to prevent it from becoming a continuous discourse, the Bank Century case should be settled, because otherwise, political rivals could take advantage of the public opinion to judge or to abort a presidential candidacy," he said. (T.A014/A/H-NG/A/S012) 06-08-2011 00:57:

OBSERVERS DOUBT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' PROMISES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 24 (ANTARA) - Economic observers and analysts have expressed doubts over promises made by presidential candidates who are campaigning for the upcoming presidential polls, saying that their high economic targets are unrealistic while what they have to focus on is how to improve the quality, not how to boost the figure, of the country's economic growth.

        Three presidential pairs contesting next July 8 presidential race are now trying to win voters' support by explaining to them their visions and missions, including their targets to increase the country's economic growth.

        The three presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs are the SBY-Boediono (the incumbent president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party and his running mate Bodiono), JK-WIN (Jusuf Kalla of the Golkar Party and Wiranto of the People's Conscience Party or Hanura) and Mega-Pro, which is a combination of Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Prabowo Subianto of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

        In their attempts to boost the country's economic growth in the coming five years, the Mega-Pro pair promised a 10 percent growth (or two digits), JK-WIN 8 percent and SBY-Boediono 7 percent.

        "The economic growth targets set by presidential candidates for the next five years are too high," economic observer Dr Fredrick Benu of the Nusa Cendana University said.

        In the coming five years the country's economic growth will increase if there is no economic turmoil. Yet it would still be impossible to reach over six percent, not to mention a two-digit figure, he said. Although macro economic indicators are relatively conducive, the average economic growth in the next five years will not exceed six percent.

        "I think there is nothing unusual in their programs. Their programs even tend to be monotonous. What appears to be different is the way they communicate with the public," he said.

        After all, the country's economic growth would be determined not only by domestic policies but also by the global economic conditions, he added.

        In the current global financial crisis it would therefore be very difficult for the country to reach an economic growth as set by presidential candidates.

        "That is actually not more than a political target set to exert a psychological influence on their constituents," Thomas Ola Langoday of the Kupang-based Mandira Widya University (UNIKA), said meanwhile.

        According to economic observer Revrisond Baswir, leaders should not only talk about economic growth figures, but also on the quality of the growth. "Talking about economic growth figures only serves the interest of those with capital, not of the people in general," Baswir said. For many people the quality of economic growth is far better than high or low figure.

        But whether or not the presidential candidates' targets were realistic, the economic observer said that it would depend on the country's economic conditions and sources of revenues. "Whether or not it is realistic would depend on their strategy. The quality of growth could be judged from the financing sources and benefit obtained from the economic growth," he said.

        Moreover, with the present world economic condition and tight bank credits at home, a high economic growth would be unlikely to achieve.

        According to Ismed Hasan, chairman of the Professional Civic Society Group, if banks' intermediary roles are not running well, the economy will also face difficulties to grow.

        Credits which are needed to generate the economy are small as a result of high interest rates. "The market becomes gloomy and the people's purchasing power becomes weak," Ismed Hasan Putro said on Wednesday.

        The government's economic target this year at 4.5 percent could be achieved if banks credits are running well. However, if the banks' credit performance remains as it is today, the economic growth target will be difficult to achieve, he said.

        Now banks' credit extension is not running well because lending rates are high, namely reaching 16 percent while the fair rate for businesses and other customers is 12 percent.

        Putro believed that the high lending rates at present could not be separated from politics because while the country is facing legislative and presidential elections, there was fear that liquidity at banks would run short.

        If there are lots of money at banks, the government would have the courage to cut lending rates and extend credits as soon as possible. If lending rates are lowered, businesses and other creditors would compete in borrowing money and this would generate the opening of new projects and the development of the real sector which in turn would offer high job opportunities.

        But, it seems, the direction of Indonesia's economic growth in the current global financial crisis is not yet clear.

        "So, presidential candidates' promises to boost economic growth to a high level are doubtful targets," Putro said. ***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:30/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 24-06-2009 22:07:27

JK-WIN GAINING WIDE MUSLIM SUPPORT

By Andi Abdussalam

akarta, June 22 (ANTARA) - Although until recently, various public opinion polls showed the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-WIN) presidential election ticket to be trailing behind the two other pairs, it is now increasingly getting wide support from Muslim clerics and Muslim organizations.

        After gaining support from at least 1,500 Muslim clerics in East Java on Sunday, the JK-WIN duo on Monday received a promise of support from about 18 million members of Islamic study and prayer groups throughout the country.

        "We hope about 18 million members will vote for Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto," Tuty Alawiyah, chairwoman of the All-Indonesia Islamic Women's Study and Prayer Club Contact Body (BKMT), said.

        Kalla's success in winning the sympathy of Muslim clerics is partly due to his intensive approaches to Muslim organizations such as the country's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) which claims a membership of 30 million.

        Last month, for example, Kalla who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, held a cordial meeting with NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi. "I have their blessings," he said after the meeting with Muzadi and other NU leaders.

        Kalla came to the NU office along with the chairman of the Golkar Party faction in the House of Representatives, Priyo Budisantoso, and party figure Aksa Mahmud. The meeting , held behind closed doors, was led by NU chief Hasyim Muzadi.

        "Thank God, as an NU member and a presidential candidate, I have been able to meet with NU leaders to ask for their blessings," he said. NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi meanwhile said he was glad that an NU member would participate in the presidential race.

        "Thank God, an NU member will run for president. Previously, he only ran for vice president and now for president. We wish him success and God bless him," Muzadi said.

        In East Java on Sunday, about 1,500 Muslim clerics expressed support for the JK-WIN presidential ticket for the upcoming presidential race on July 8, 2009.

        "We have held a limited consultation to forge a common perception and now we are ready to declare our joint determination to support the JK-WIN duo," East Java's Muslim Clerics spokesman, cleric Anwar Iskandar (Gus War), said.

        The Muslim clerics which support Kalla in East Java included Muchid Muzadi of Jember district, Sofyan Miftah (Situbondo), Choli As'ad (Situbondo), Fawaid As'ad (Situbondo), Mas Ahmad Subadar (Pasuruan), Chotib Umar (Jember), Hisaym Syafaat (Banyuwangi), Mutawakkil Alallah (Probolinggo).

        Abdullah Faqih of Langitan (Tuban) is also included along with others such as Zainudin Djazuli (Kediri), Anwar Mansyur (Kediri), Nurul Huda Djazuli (Kediri), Sholeh Qosim (Kediri), Agus Ali Masyhuri (Sidoarjo), Masduqi Mahfudz (Malang and Hadi Mahfudz (Tulung Agung).

        On the reason of the Muslim clerics' support for the JK-WIN presidential ticket, Gus War said they had made their choice based on ideological and religious considerations. Jusuf Kalla, he said, was the son of the founder of the NU's Makassar branch and his mother was an activist of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization, in South Sulawesi.

        "Our clerics' reason is very simple. If there is a candidate who is clearly linked to NU , then they don't need to make a speculative choice," he said.

        "So, we make our choice not based on a loss-or-win consideration but based on reasoning that can be accounted for to God," he added.

        The same reason was also cited by Tuty Alawiyah, who is also a former minister for women's role empowerment and rector of As Syafiiyah Islamic University. She said members of her organization would vote for JK-WIN pair not because of practical politics but because of religious considerations. They wanted to choose a president and a vice president who could voice the aspirations of Muslims and had a good understanding of Islam.

        "In the legislative elections held on April 9, 2009, we did not voice our support to someone and let our members vote for someone of their own choice," she said.

        She said although she was not sure how many members of her organization would obey the organization's advice to vote for Kalla and Wiranto, based on experience, housewives active in the Islamic study and prayers groups were always relatively united in responding to BKMT decisions.

        "Our support is contained in an agreement reached by the association of assemblies of Islamic studies (Permata). It is expected that the agreement will not be on paper only but also observed on D-day," she said. The BKMT is continuing to popularize the results of the BKMT meeting in an effort to gain support for the JK-WIN presidential pair.

        Besides support from Muslim voters, it was also reported from Banten over the weekend that the JK-WIN duo also gained support from regional branches of 10 small parties which are in coalition with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)'s Democratic Party (PD).

        Coordinator of the ten parties, Ma'ruf Muhtadi said they withdrew their support to SBY because they did not get the trust from the SBY camp. "We are belittled while we also have mass supporters," Ma'ruf said. Secretary of the Democratic Party for Banten branch Aeng Khaeruddin said he was not convinced the ten parties would really withdraw their support. "At the central executive board level, the ten parties remain solid in supporting us," Khaeruddin said.

        But the Indonesian Community Front-1 (FKT-1), a mass organization which was established in 2004 to support SBY's presidential bid, said small parties in coalition with the DP were basically only 'empty coaches'.

        "Based on observations and field checks, we believe that many political parties which support the SBY-Boediono coalition are only 'empty coaches', or parties without supporters," FKT-1 chairman M Julian Manurung said on Sunday.***1***

        (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:40/A/O001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/O001) 22-06-2009 21:46:16

SOME OBSERVERS GIVE THUMBS DOWN TO BOEDIONO

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 14 (ANTARA) - Democratic Party (PD) chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has reportedly decided to pick Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono as his running mate in the upcoming July 8 2009 presidential polls.

        The PD presidential hopeful's decision to run with Boediono, a true professional and technocrat, has sparked resistance from cadres of political parties in the PD-led coalition.

        Cadres of the pro-SBY political parties said Yudhoyono's running mate should come from political parties or one who had political support. Observers share this opinion.

        "Boediono is not the best candidate for SBY to run with. He should have picked up a figure from political party circles so that his government would have strong support from parliament," Alfitri, political observer of the Palembang-based University of Sriwijaya, said on Wednesday.

        He said that with their present culture the Indonesian people could not yet accept a president or vice president who came from non-political party circles.

        After all, in the political aspect, the naming of Boediono was not right because SBY did not take into account the consideration of the outside-Java representation.

        "SBY and Boediono are from Java. In the political point of view, this is not good because it would not win the sympathy from people outside Java," political analyst of the University of Benkulu Ardilafiza said.

        On the chance of Yudhoyono to win the presidential polls if he goes ahead with Boediono, Ardilafiza said that if the PD-led coalition remains solid with the existing political party supporters, he had a big chance to win it.

        The political parties which had joined the PD-led coalition are the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB). These parties resisted on Tuesday Yudhoyono's choice of Boediono, except PKB.

        In the eyes of businessmen, Boediono is also not the best choice.

        Boediono is not the right man to serve as vice president although he is an expert on economic affairs.

        "From the macro point of view, Jusuf Kalla is better. (Boediono) may lack the courage to face the coalition of parties and legislators in the House because he has no political party support," Sofjan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO), said.

        He said that Boediono shared a similar character with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He tends to always adopt a wait-and-see attitude. "It is difficult for businessmen to meet him. He also tends to keep things himself," Wanandi said.

        He said the appointment of Jusuf Kalla as vice president in 2004 was different from the selection of Boediono. Kalla signed a contract with Yudhoyono first on what he was going to do as vice president so that he became an active vice president.

        He said that as a technocrat Boediono was the best because he had good experience and was an expert in monetary affairs but as a vice president his capabilities were rather questionable whether he would be active or not, or he would serve as a 'spare tire' such as the vice presidents during the era of president Soeharto.

        According to Secretary General of the Inland Waterway Transport Services Association (Gapsasdap) Luthfi Syarief, Boediono, in his capacity as bank regulator was less firm. However if Boediono accompanies Yudhoyono as his vice president, the results of his work would be seen only after the government issued economic policies favorable to market players, and all these would depend on the national political situation.

        "If the political situation is unstable, market players will pursue a prudent attitude. Economic policies could not be separated from political matters," he said.

        Therefore, it was too early to judge whether the SBY-Boediono ticket was pro-market or not before they had become a real pair.

        What is obvious is that whoever the president or vice president, parliamentary support would have a high influence. "So, everything must be conducive first before the market reacts," he added.

        A different opinion was expressed by economic observer Emilia Hamzah of the University of Jambi. She said that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono if they paired up as presidential ticket will be able to reduce wasteful budget spending and restore Indonesia's economy.

        "Boediono is a seasoned financial negotiator who is well-known in the economic world and believed to be able to reduce wasteful budget spending and to restore the country's economy," she said.

        She said that Indonesia was now facing economic and poverty problems so that the naming of Boediono as a vice presidential candidate was expected to reinforce the president's economic team.

        Boediono who is known to have produced a lot of people's economic concepts, if he wins the presidential polls, will of course take sides with the people.

        The Bank Indonesia (BI) governor is also experienced as he was once finance minister, head of the National Development Planning Board and now governor of the central bank, she said.

        She said that Boediono adopted a very efficient attitude so that his leadership was believed to be able to offset inefficiency and reduce wasteful budget spending.

        Therefore, according to political observer Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia, Boediono is the correct figure to pair up with Yudhoyono.

        "I think, Yudhoyono has made a smart choice because his government would become more able to face the impact of global economic crisis," Arbi Sanit said. ***1*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/A014 ) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 14-05-2009 00:53:37