Oh my President

by: Yoedi Karyono

Is one of pride if the state of Indonesia which this island nation has a president who could be anywhere in the country very quickly and precisely when its presence is required at all times. With a vast country it is not possible if done in a way by road. The only option is through air transportation, because that is the thinking among the presidency that a president of Indonesia needs to have the aircraft and some aircraft.

Type of wide-body aircraft could be used for the purposes of the president if the party requires a very large. commonly accompanied by a presidential bodyguard, personal physician, personal spokesman, the logistics and all the president needs, and it was reasonable as a president. Wide-body aircraft, any kind of plane is certainly needed some, because if only one, and then broken, it will inhibit the activities of the president.

Presidential activities with small groups, can be done with the charged jet to a maximum of 15 passengers, it would be sufficient to support the president and immediately headed to the entire territory of Indonesia, and the smaller jet was certainly needed some, at least one backup with 100 percent of operating capacity.

All aircraft that are necessary and essential to support the president, especially when the president made a working visit or state visit abroad, will be very impressed great that the Indonesian state and nation have been able to buy the president some state aircraft, it certainly would be very proud.

So, what about the facilities that must be received by the vice president? Must be the same, because the task of the vice president is also very heavy and important and should be supported facilities more or less equal. And all that was ideal, necessary and important. But the question is, what worth? if already in this area should then talk to the people with minds and hearts, what there is empathy.

The desire to have the president of a private plane presidency ever existed, namely at the time of the fourth President of this country Abdurrachman Wahid after returning from a state visit abroad. Gus Dur said that the President of Indonesia needs to have a private plane presidency, was considering how crowded the show for five-year presidential tenure, and how vast this country which they are responsible.

Of course, this desire Wahid strong reaction from MPR Chairman Amien Rais at the time and the various circles, the reaction from political parties in Parliament who happens to National Awakening Party (PKB) that support Gus Dur as the only minority party, so it will sink and Gus Dur not discussed again, and Gus Dur is only in power for less than two years after the Assembly to impeachment of Wahid.

Now that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) supported by the majority in the House of Representatives, and at the general election is supported by 60.8 percent of voters. SBY did not say anything related to this presidential aircraft. The desire is still to be rumors, but maybe the aircraft had been purchased under the hand and was prepared for presidential activity, and would be easy if you've purchased and used for the benefit of the president, a spokesman for the president would easily say that the president does not know with any purchase.

Would the same as the purchase of luxury cars for ministers and state officials totaling 150 units, each worth USD 1.5 billion, the president also did not know, at least according to presidential spokesman. Naturally, the president did have a private plane presidency. Djoko Chandra S-class just a big fish corruptors fleeing to foreign countries has a private jet. Aburizal Bakrie as a wealthy businessman also has a private jet and even some rich people in Indonesia are not richer than Aburizal Bakrie also has a private plane, at least a small jet.

Other plans, there is an increase salaries of state officials and the ministers. Their basic salary of nearly Rp 18 million plus a free electrical facilities, free phone and free water plus other financial benefits, they are very decent living. But the plan denied by the Minister / State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati on 29 Januari2010, they received no salary increment but remuneration.

But, it was only a matter of terminology, if the income each month the ministers and state officials that up, because what it means to remuneration, do the same. And it was mereika survive seuai with applicable Law, and if you enter this area is certainly the House will agree, because the Parliament will also receive remuneration that.

The current government is actually using as the winner of general elections, do whatever they liked who did not care about all the criticism, objection, criticism or even insults. Most of the people who still live in poverty and do not have certainty not a government priority.

Is SBY think this is his last position as President of the Republic of Indonesia, with the support of a strong parliament and the support of powerful people. In fact a massive demonstration on January 28, 2010 does not affect any of the Cabinet. SBY regime then do whatever they want regardless of people's misery and suffering. I hope not.

Aircraft's Cheap!
What is the actual price of a big aircraft Boeing 737-800? Only Rp 700 billion? so the price really, what price is only approximate, because it is normal that a president wants to have a private plane presidency, because that's when compared with the activity that is very much the president and be responsible to all over Indonesia and an invitation to attend either abroad or working visit courtesy call, then the existence of the plane becomes very important.

This price is much cheaper, when compared with the state to hire for the benefit of presidential activity in the same aircraft a year, that's what the Minister / State Secretary Sudi Silalahi dated January 30, 2010. ''When compared with renting a plane, buy the same plane is much cheaper. It has been approved by the House of Representatives (DPR) in November last year,''said Sudi at the State Palace in Jakarta.

If so, then purchase a presidential aircraft not only rumors, is certainly the President of the Republic of Indonesia will soon have a personal presidential aircraft, and this is a new history for this country, because the president who has never previously had the same facility.

Abdurrachman Wahid (Gus Dur's) never wanted the same thing, but the desire Gus Dur was aborted by the House even when it caused controversy. If the presidency was such a neat design and the House of Representatives has approved, then only a matter of time President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has a presidential aircraft.

Then the House will get what?, Of course will get rewarded, and that a facility or the things that is very exciting rewards and approved the purchase of aircraft able to keep secret all this time that the state has ordered the presidential aircraft, and is also finance minister who will pay for this order.

Great, our president will be President of the United States like Barrack Obama, who has Air Force One, and we may well have prejudiced his plane would be great if Garuda named One, certainly not SBY One, for SBY in 2014 was no longer president .

If the ministers and officials of this country in the early years of a share of official car in the luxury category each for Rp 1.5 billion, it is very natural that heads of state agencies have aircraft for Rp 700 billion. If the president or vice president will visit abroad for at least a 30-day flight will be used for this purpose for Garuda Indonesia to be prepared, clean safety, aircraft have to be good physically and emotionally.

Crew on duty are also prepared, safe or not bring the party presidency. All preparations were big cost, and this may be a consideration Silalahi. If you have all your air is not needed so much more efficient, but any type of aircraft still require treatment name, especially presidential aircraft to secure 100 percent of both technical and operations.

By the time Suharto became president never happen the one thing that forced some people to be responsible by the aircraft technician complained that the presidential aircraft have been over loaded. It happened during a flight from Saudi Arabia to the Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta. Why, children and grandchildren to join Soeharto in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi have been shopping and had resulted in over-loaded aircraft.

How to deal with simple, few parts in the plane prepared to deal with emergencies should be taken down in Arabia, in order groceries Suharto's extended family can be transported to Jakarta. Garuda's crew could only pray invites hopefully there was no trouble. And indeed the plane managed to take off with the sound of heavy machinery, as well as at the time of landing was stronger waves. Because the survivors arrived at Halim Airport, technicians Garuda applauded enthusiastically by face brighter.

Was later SBY and his party will do the same thing? It will be answered later. But something worth buying the presidential aircraft in the midst of poverty people are still very much of this.

Comparison with neighboring countries, Singapore The Prime Minister and the entourage of about 20 people if a visit abroad he used a commercial airplane flight of the country, and the prime minister flew together the other passengers.

When compared with the salaries and income between the Prime Minister of Singapore by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the salaries and income of Singapore Prime Minister much larger and certainly more prosperous country. It's not fair to compare the state of Indonesia is very big with Singapore.

Important or not important presidents have presidential aircraft, is highly dependent on the president himself, if the president says no need, then purchase plane need not happen. Sense of conscience and empathy will speak here, if President Obama should have a presidential aircraft is one of the reasons that threatened security killing himself, and President SBY's also been threatened with death, what is the same reason it will be used. Whatever, but still there are things far more important that needs to be done by a president for the prosperity of its people, and the president already knew. But like it or not, it really depends on Mr. SBY. (www.rainbowdiplomacy.com/photo:www.presidensby.info)