Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Yudhoyono's Position on Key Issues

VIVAnews - Current Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is running for President again in the 2009 elections. The following are his positions on certain key issues.

Death Toll Rises to 140 in Moscow Terrorism Attack

Foreign Investment: The Government is working hard to improve the investment climate.

The government is still hard at work in improving the investment climate; this includes the discussion for the revision of Indonesia’s tax regulations. Efforts to attract foreign investments have had important effects on economic growth, on reducing poverty while at the same time, generating profit for foreign investors. “We have made many improvements to the investment climate, and those efforts will continue to be done even better. We have revised many regulations and investment laws. After revising those various regulations, we will soon discuss the revision for tax regulations with the People’s Committee.” (Stated in a press conference, after signing a pact of mutual cooperation between Indonesia and Norway, on Energy and Climate change, in order to improve the quality of both countries’ relation).

Wajah Sering Kena Matahari Jangan Abaikan Penggunaan Moisturizer

Education: Education must strengthen the nation’s character.

Indonesia’s education must involve, not only the transfer of knowledge and technology, but also the shaping the nation’s values and character. In 5 years, the goal is to develop an excellent education system that is easily accessible, and free for the poor. “Let us not be lazy and easily surrender. The character that this nation has to have is resilience, care and high degree of curiosity.” (Stated during the opening commemoration of the National Education day at the University of Airlangga, Surabaya).

Suzuki Siapkan 66 Bengkel Siaga Dukung Mudik Lebaran 2024

Unemployment: Improve knowledge, skills, and attitude.

One way to reduce unemployment rate is by increasing the ability to truly absorb the workforce, both at a local level and nationally. “The absorption of workforce can be increased by keeping workers that are already working and opening new opportunities to work. Avoid layoffs from economic crisis or bombings. For the long term it is just as important to try and keep workers by increasing their knowledge, skills, and attitude. This can no longer be bargained with, keeping in mind that Indonesia’s work productivity is the lowest among ASEAN countries.” (Stated when announcing the tackling of unemployment, 8th December 2005, Jakarta).
 

Democracy/Human Rights: Promise to fight for Human Rights.

Indonesia will keep on struggling to improve Human Rights. “Indonesia will continue its fight to improve human rights internationally through its membership with the UN human Rights council. And we will keep on improving the international peace, especially by continuing Indonesia’s role in peace keeping operations that are ongoing at Lebanon, among others.” (Stated after a visit by the UN’s Human Right’s High Commissioner Louis Arbour at the Presidential office).

Corruption: The importance of prevention.

“The government must seriously uphold the law, especially in eradicating corruption in Indonesia. This attitude must be fully supported by law enforcers: the Corruption Eradication Commission, the District Attorney's Office, and the Police. My view and attitude is to uphold the law, especially in the effort to eradicate corruption, we must continue it seriously. I stress the importance of prevention, so that corruption does not happen, in the effort to eradicate corruption in this country.”

Defense: TNI cannot be behind the military of other countries.

Indonesia’s National Army (TNI) cannot be behind any other country’s military, in terms of skills and knowledge. Surely Indonesia is capable in revolutionizing its military. “I am sure with the appropriate and relentless training and education we can become a professional military force that is not behind those of other countries.” (Stated when inducting TNI Commander General Endriartono Sutarto in the National Palace, 13th February 2006).

Economy: A strategy of growth accompanied with even distribution.

Economic development is done in order to create a fair and evenly distributed prosperity for the people. Acceleration of the economic development has given a positive effect on the acceleration in the decrease of open unemployment and poverty levels. “The strategy which I have initiated is a strategy of growth, accompanied with even distribution, or growth with equity.” (Stated while giving Explanation for the Government on the Draft of the State Revenues and Expenditures Budget  Regulation of 2009, along with its financial notes before the People’s Committee Plenary Meeting, 15th August 2008).

Environment: It is time to take action for the conservation of the environment.

“It is no longer a time to talk about advising on conservation and environment control; it is time to take action on conservation and preservation of nature. “God almighty has given us red and yellow light, through disasters. It is time to act, starting with ourselves, for the conservation of nature.” (Stated in the opening of The World Environment Day, in the National Palace, Thursday 5th June 2008, Jakarta).

Poverty: Fighting poverty is a must.

Before Indonesia was independent, it was the colonizers that we fought against. But after we became independent and acquire sovereignty, we fight poverty and backwardness. That is why the challenge up ahead is to eradicate poverty. “If it was obligatory to fight colonizers before, then it is now a necessity to fight poverty in order to reach prosperity. The jihad  that we must do is against poverty and backwardness.” (Stated when proclaiming the Movement to Eradicate Poverty in the Nation, at Parik Malintang Padangpariaman, September 2006, West Sumatera).

International Relations : Consistently being active and open.

“The government is consistently keeping an attitude of 'Active and Open', for its foreign affairs. All foreign policy is done by prioritizing the country's needs. The strengthening of political, social, and economic situation of the country has pushed Indonesia to an even more active role in both the regional and global international arena. “We must continue to participate actively in the integration process of regions, to the goal of achieving an ASEAN community by 2020, and a stronger cooperation between countries of East Asia. Our success in organizing the Asian African High Level Conference in 2005, has improved our nation and country’s image on a global scale.”

Translated by: Archie Ardian.

Halaman Selanjutnya
Halaman Selanjutnya