SBY: Don't cry for me Indonesia

JAKARTA. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is telling the nation’s regents to stop whining and follow his example of endurance following eight years of humiliation as Indonesia’s chief executive.

Responding to the salary complaints of regents, Yudhoyono reminded the regional leaders to be careful when discussing the issue with journalists, citing his own bitter experience when he raised questions about his salary two years ago.

Yudhoyono, a retired four-star general, was referring to statements he made in January 2011, when he told a forum of senior military and police officers that he had not had a salary increase in seven years. 

The remarks sparked a nationwide controversy that Yudhoyono has apparently yet to forget.

The presidential litany of ails did not end there, however. 

“I have been subject to constant criticism, insults and judgment from the public during my entire presidency that have continued for more than eight years now,” Yudhoyono said when opening the ninth National Working Meeting of the Association of Indonesian Regency Administrations (Apkasi) and the 10th National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Agricultural Extension Workers (Perhiptani) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“If I have been able to be strong, you must be too,” Yudhoyono told the 300 regents in the audience. “In the past, some of you have complained that you were harshly criticized during your three or four years as local leaders. I have been in that situation for more than eight years.”

The President then addressed journalists who at the ceremony, chastising the media for failing to quote him accurately on his salary complaint. 

“My statement was previously incompletely quoted and taken out of context in 2011,” Yudhoyono said.

The President’s was responding to Apkasi chairman Isran Noor, who, in a speech made just before Yudhoyono spoke, complained about the central government’s failure to fulfil a three-year-old promise to increase the salary of the nation’s regents.

“It is difficult for me to discuss this matter, but I carry a mandate from my fellow regents, as well as from some mayors and governors, who asked me to remind you that we haven’t had a salary increase, even though the promise was made three years ago,” Isran, who is also the regent of East Kutai, East Kalimantan, said.

According to Government Regulation (PP) No. 59/2000 and Presidential Decree No. 68/2001, regents receive fixed monthly salaries of Rp 5.88 million (US$607.23). 

The presidential paycheck, meanwhile, has remained unchanged at Rp 62.5 million a month since Yudhoyono first entered office in 2004, according to a press release from the Presidential Palace in 2006. The presidential household also receives a monthly Rp 2 billion stipend.

However, governors, regents and mayors and can take home several times their fixed salaries due to incentives and operational allowances that vary based on local revenues (PAD).

The President ended on an upbeat note for the assembled officials. “When the state budget’s posture is strong enough, [raises will be] implemented as soon as possible, for the sake of justice,” Yudhoyono said to prolonged applause.

Bagus BT Saragih / THE JAKARTA POST