President: leadership is about making right decisions in difficult situations

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said leadership was not about finding easy ways out but about taking right decisions in difficult situations.

Speaking at the opening of the Indonesian Regional Investment Forum 2008 (IRIF-2008) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here on Monday, the President said he realized the decision to raise domestic fuel oil prices was a politically difficult one as was a similar measure he had to take in 2005 (when fuel oil prices were increased by more than 100 percent).

"But this is not a popularity contest. It is an effort to save the economy and protect the people," he said.

He called on regional administrations to understand the government`s decision to raise the fuel oil prices and to respond to it as a problem faced by the central as well as regional administrations.

"The government, regional government leaders, and the people have to work together to find a practical solution to the problem instead of playing political rhetorics," Yudhoyono said.

According to the head of state, the government`s decision to raise domestic fuel oil prices by 28.7 percent last Friday was the best possible solution to reduce the fuel oil subsidy burden and to save the national economy.

"If the fuel oil prices were not raised, an economic and monetary crisis like the one in 1997 could happen and the people would suffer," he said. (*) end