Camelia Pasandaran & Muninggar Sri Saraswati

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visiting the Marine Corps during an exercise on Sunday. (Antara Photo)

President Warns of Criticism ‘Overdose’

During a speech on Monday at the National Police headquarters, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono likened criticism of the government to a powerful medicine, but warned that an “overdose” could have a negative effect.

“When the medicine is right for the disease and is given in the right dose, it will make us healthy,” Yudhoyono said in front of National Police officials in Jakarta. “But if the medicine is given in the wrong dose, it will make us sick.”

“Criticism, including insults, if it is accompanied with the right solution, will bring goodness to everybody, including the government and the police,” he added.

During his speech, Yudhoyono also recalled a question he was asked by a police academy graduate in Surabaya during the height of last year’s conflict between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

“Mr President, how should we behave when the spotlight, critics and accusations are focused on the police?” Yudhoyono said, quoting the question.

“My answer was that the police must be clear-headed, rational and calm. Do not get emotional. Undertake evaluation and introspection, including on whether or not there are still weaknesses in carrying out your duties. If there are, then it has to be fixed,” he said.

Although he directed the police not to get emotional and to evaluate conditions before making decisions, Yudhoyono appeared to disregard his own advice days earlier, when he complained during a televised speech about a recent protest at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

The protesters had brought along a buffalo, which Yudhoyono said was meant to symbolize the president as “big, stupid and lazy.” Yudhoyono called on the protesters, who taped a picture of him to the buffalo, to mind their manners. Then his spokesman, Julian Aldrin Pasha, on Thursday called for a law banning the desecration of state symbols, including the head of state.

The image of the National Police took a beating last year following allegations that its chief detective had played a role in efforts to undermine the powerful KPK.

Activists and the public called for the head of former chief detective, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, for weeks before he eventually stepped aside.

Susno was at the center of a controversial case against two deputy chairmen of the KPK and on the periphery of an investigation into the equally controversial government bailout of Bank Century in late 2008.

Recordings of phone conversations indicated Susno was involved in a plot to frame the two KPK deputies and that he helped a politically connected Bank Century depositor withdraw money that had been injected by the government.

In his closing remarks, Yudhoyono on Monday reminded police that they should always remember to be a role model for the public, despite the low level of respect shown to them at times. “The service and dedication of the police are often forgotten by the people,” he said.

“During more than five years of leadership, the police have been working [hard] to unravel the narcotics networks, which has had a massive impact in protecting millions of people. They have also been [successful] in eradicating terrorism and preventing our nation from becoming an ocean of violence. They have done more work than they should do.”

Yunanto Widjaja, a political researcher for consultancy Charta Politika, said the president was trying to tell the public through his speech that he has had enough of “wild criticism.”

“He wants to say that he listens to the criticism. However, he also wants his critics to understand that he needs to consider all aspects to respond to criticisms,” Yunanto said.

Yunanto said Yudhoyono has been known as a leader who upholds procedures and lives up to the law.

“That is why he mentioned the need to be rational and clear-headed in handling critics,” he added.

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