INDONESIA: President to go live on the Internet

Susilo continues to fight for 'direct connection' to the public and launches a new website where people can communicate with him

Straits Times
Wednesday, January 11, 2006

By Devi Asmarani

Jakarta --- After inviting Indonesians to send text messages to him via their cellphones, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may soon be available for live discussions over the Internet.

In his latest effort to foster "direct connection" with the public, Dr Yudhoyono has commissioned a team of information technology experts to set up a website dedicated to the President's office, according to one of the website's consultants.

The website, which will be available in both Indonesian and English, will highlight his daily activities, disseminate information on policies and accept public complaints, IT expert Roy Suryo said.

It will also contain the President's latest speeches, press releases, pictures and footage of his activities.

There will also be moderated dialogues with Dr Yudhoyono, he said, adding that the website will be launched later this month.

Presidential spokesman Andi Malaranggeng confirmed the plan to set up the website but declined to elaborate.

Mr Roy said the initiative came in the middle of last year from the President himself. Known to be an IT enthusiast, Dr Yudhoyono wanted to make himself more accessible to the public.

He is one of the few top Indonesian leaders who personally communicate via e-mail.

"The aim is to enable the President to communicate directly and smoothly with the public -- part of an integrated service as the SMS 9949," said Mr Roy, referring to the number for public complaints and feedback.

"It is also a means for the President to get feedback directly from the public," he added.

The move to make public the President's cellphone number last year resulted in a deluge of messages that jammed his phone. The office of the President then assigned a new number, 9949, to handle the overwhelming response.

Many messages were leads on possible corruption and inefficiencies.

However, only around 10 per cent of them warranted the President's personal attention, officials said.

Mr Roy said the new website will be modelled on that of the United States presidential office (www.whitehouse.gov).

Dr Yudhoyono's two spokesmen, Mr Andi and Mr Dino Djalal, will manage the website, helped by a team of staffers and reporters.

They declined to say how much the project will cost, but the Jakarta Post said it cost less than 100 million rupiah (S$17,000) to register the website, excluding costs for monthly maintenance.

The website's address has not been disclosed.

Communication expert Deddy Nurhidayat said this move is another image-building tool for the President.

"It will send the message that he is constantly working to be accessible to the public and is, at the same time, a modern leader who deploys technology in communication. This will serve to distinguish him from his predecessor Megawati Sukarnoputri," he said.

"But ultimately, the President must make good his promises to answer the demands of the public, whether they're sent through SMSes or the Internet. Otherwise, the unfulfilled promises would backfire," he added.

Date Posted: 1/11/2006