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TIME Selected President SBY of Indonesia, Former Chairman of D-8, among World’s 100 Most Influential People

Jakarta, Indonesia | May 02, 2009 by D-8 Secretariat

Indonesian President and former D-8 Leadership, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chosen among top 100 most influential people by TIME

Indonesian President and former D-8 Chairman, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chosen among top 100 most influential people by TIME

The changes taking place in one member of D-8, Indonesia, today are among the most remarkable developments in the Muslim world. The country’s transition to a more democratic state has proved that as a democracy, Indonesia can be culturally vibrant and economically prosperous.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, had won a landslide election victory in September 2004, garnering 61% of the vote, to become Indonesia’s sixth president and the first to be popularly elected. His election gave rise to high expectations, both within Indonesia and in the international community. A Western-educated former general, SBY was widely seen as possessing the personal traits and professional skills necessary to restore prosperity and stability to the country. He was fluent in English and well versed in economics, and his military background was seen as an asset in dealing with Indonesia’s many security problems. He entered office with an ambitious reform agenda, which included promises to accelerate economic growth, crack down on corruption and terrorism, and strengthen democracy and human rights.

Since then, SBY has managed to keep the nation afloat, even during the current global recession. Another major achievement has been the extension of democracy to regional and municipal levels of government. However, significant challenges lie ahead. Poverty remains pervasive in Indonesia, and the government must press onward with improvements to the country’s ailing infrastructure. Businesses are confronted with a bewildering array of regulations, and the country pays a heavy price in corruption and bribery.

Nevertheless, the transparency, accountability and openness of government under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s presidency of the world’s third most populous democracy reveals many encouraging trends. Indonesia does have a robust if fledgling political and electoral system, a functioning judiciary and an established bureaucracy, and has achieved greater economic stability and social cohesion despite the tumultuous events of the past two years. There is relative freedom of the press, people can now talk openly about their leaders, and leaders respond more to their questions.

Under SBY’s presidency economic performance has improved promisingly. The economy has recovered in earnest from the 1997-98 financial crises, and GDP growth has been around 5½ per cent per year since 2004. This rate is below that of some regional peers, but high enough to deliver broad based improvements in living standards. The contribution of private consumption has trended up, especially since 2004, on the back of robust credit creation. Investment also appears to be rebounding, although it remains lower than elsewhere in the region when measured in relation to GDP. Export growth has been supported by high commodity prices. The momentum of the current expansion is expected to be maintained in 2008-09, with GDP growth likely exceeding 6% per year. Though obviously such expectations now have been shaken by the global crisis since October.

The sudden impact from the US financial crisis which apparently turned into a global crisis changed the whole economic scenario of Indonesia. Nevertheless under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Indonesia managed to safeguard its basic economic progress by introducing several measures in facing the crisis. Such measures have proven to show signs of success though Indonesia still need to be vigilant. Currently, Indonesia aims for an economic growth rate of at least 4.5%, and set tackling of unemployment, controlling inflation, keeping the real economy moving, maintaining people’s purchasing power, protecting the poor, maintaining food and energy security as seven top priorities in the economic policy.

Under his leadership in D-8 Organization during 2006-2008, the organization has developed into a more solid and dynamic grouping, among other through the promotion of a more wider and stronger institutional development. Under his former leadership, D-8 also seek to and gradually expanded its working network with other international organizations, private sectors, and NGOs. Through extensive informational campaign on D-8 Organization as well as the absolute support and direction from the current leadership of Malaysia, the grouping is now becoming more familiar in the public and global scale.

D-8 Secretary General, Dipo Alam, said that the time has come for Indonesia as the world’s most populous Muslim nation, to assume a more prominent position in Asia and throghout the Muslim world’s economic. Commenting the US President Obama’s warm approaches to Muslim countries for a new phase in relations with the US and Western World, Alam said that SBY can be a perfect figure to take the lead and chart a new course for the region.

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