SBY Hopes Next President Can Better His Achievements

Manila (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) hopes that the next president will have more achievements to his name during his administration and take Indonesia forward in the next five years. He made the statement here on Saturday when asked about the country's future prospects after 2014. President SBY will step down in October, this year, following the July 9 presidential election. He has completed two terms in office since 2004. "If I am asked about the prospect after 2014, I think, whoever will lead Indonesia later, I do not know who will be elected or will it be Pak (mr) Jokowi (Joko Widodo) or Pak Prabowo (Prabowo Subianto) (that will be elected), certainly must maintain and preserve what has been achieved by the nation and is committed to taking it further in the future," the head of state noted. SBY said he believed that all the presidential and vice presidential candidates will be able to learn fast to overcome the challenges. "I am convinced whoever is elected will be able to learn fast to really understand what will be his mission and what kind of solutions are needed to preserve what we have achieved and improve on what is not yet good and further the achievements that have been earlier made," he reiterated. Speaking at a press conference before leaving for Indonesia after completing his three-day visit to the Philippines to meet President Aquino and attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia, President Yudhoyono also expressed hope that all quarters will assist the new president. "Knowing that the future challenges will not be easy, we must do something to help the next president so that more success can be achieved," he emphasized. He said besides all the shortcomings, Indonesia has received international recognition with regard to the successes that it has achieved. President Yudhoyono was optimistic about the country's future. (*) Reporting by Muhammad Arief Iskandar